Squishy dumpling toys may hide serious health risks, expert warns

KUALA LUMPUR: Squishy dumpling toys popular among children could pose health risks if they contain harmful chemicals or water beads, or are exposed to heat.

Universiti Malaya Faculty of Medicine clinical lecturer Dr Khoo Wee Vien said some toys contained chemicals such as benzene, toluene and xylene, which could pose health risks, particularly with prolonged exposure.

Benzene exposure over an extended period, particularly for more than a year, could cause cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma, she said.

"For pregnant women, exposure to benzene can also affect the unborn baby, potentially causing genetic mutations.

"The chemicals are highly volatile and can enter the body through inhalation, causing symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, headache and dizziness.

"If swallowed, they can cause vomiting, stomach ache, seizures and death, while contact with the eyes can cause irritation, redness and skin peeling," she said.

Dr Khoo said some squishy dumpling toys also contained water beads, which could be dangerous if swallowed, particularly by children under 5.

The beads could expand after being swallowed and block the small intestine, potentially requiring surgery, she said.

"There is also a social trend of children heating squishy dumpling toys in microwave ovens.

"When heated, the toys can expand and explode like a bomb, potentially causing severe skin injuries," she said.

The same risk applied if the toys were left in a car for an extended period and exposed to high temperatures, she added.

"Young children are more sensitive to hazardous chemicals because of their smaller body size. They are also easily attracted to new toys and may be tempted to lick or swallow them," she said.

However, Dr Khoo said squishy dumpling toys were not the only products that posed risks, and parents should check the condition of toys before allowing their children to play with them.

"Squishy toys that feel sticky or smell of petrol should not be used and should be discarded immediately.

"Never leave squishy dumpling toys in a car and avoid buying products containing small beads," she said.

Dr Khoo said the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and European Union countries had issued public warnings or banned the sale of squishy dumpling toys.

She added that counterfeit toys were readily available, both online and elsewhere.

"For an experiment, I bought five squishy dumpling toys online at prices ranging from RM4 to RM14.40," she said.

She was shocked when journalists told her the toys were also being sold outside some school gates to attract pupils.

She added that an advertisement on an online shopping platform had claimed the product was "100% Authentic".

Although none of the toys smelled of petrol when their packaging was opened, all felt sticky to the touch, she said.

"For the first experiment, I heated a squishy dumpling toy in a microwave oven for one minute. I then measured the temperature of the liquid inside using a thermometer.

"I found that the temperature exceeded 100 degrees Celsius, the boiling point of water. Touching it could cause severe burns, especially to children's sensitive skin," she said.

"Next, I cut open a squishy dumpling toy containing water beads, each measuring 0.5cm.

"The beads looked shiny, transparent and attractive, like jelly sweets, which could attract children who might mistake them for sweets," she added.

Dr Khoo said the next test involved soaking all the beads in water for eight hours.