The Consumer Council of Fiji is urging parents,
caregivers, and the general public to exercise heightened
caution when purchasing “squishy toys”, particularly
cheap, unbranded, or counterfeit products. The advisory
comes following a series of international safety alerts and
product recalls highlighting severe risks including chemical
burns, toxic chemical exposure, and choking
hazards.
Squishy toys, the soft, gel-filled sensory
toys often shaped like animals, food items, or dumplings
have become highly popular among children in Fiji, driven
largely by viral social media trends. However, recent
investigations and product recalls in the United Kingdom,
the United States, Canada, and other countries have revealed
alarming safety concerns that should concern all Fijian
parents
A recent snap survey conducted by the Consumer
Council across local retail stores, variety shops, and
online platforms confirmed that these toys are broadly
available in Fiji. Alarmingly, the survey revealed that many
of the products sold locally lack basic cautionary
statements, adequate safety information, or any clear
disclosure of what materials or substances are contained
inside them.
The Council is deeply concerned about the
health hazards these unvetted toys present. When a squishy
toy tears, bursts, or leaks, children face exposure to
hazardous chemicals through skin contact, inhalation,
hand-to-mouth transfers, or accidental ingestion.
Furthermore, many of these toys are filled with substances
such as gels, liquids, powders, sand, or water beads, all of
which pose severe choking and toxicological risks if
released.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
Consumer Council of Fiji Chief Executive
Officer Ms. Seema Shandil emphasized that parents and
caregivers should not assume a colorful and soft toy is
automatically safe for children. She urged consumers to be
particularly cautious of cheap, unbranded, or counterfeit
products where materials used are unclear, reiterating that
children’s safety must remain the absolute priority and that
any items showing signs of damage, leakage, or strong
chemical odors should be avoided entirely.
Ms Shandil
added: “We are not saying all squishy toys are dangerous.
When used as intended, many are harmless. But the
proliferation of counterfeit products, the presence of toxic
chemicals, and the dangerous social media trends are causing
real harm to children. We must act now to protect Fijian
children from these preventable injuries and
illnesses.”
The local advisory aligns with strong
actions taken by product safety authorities globally. In
August 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
issued a formal safety warning regarding counterfeit squishy
toys containing excessive lead, restricted chemicals, small
parts, and hazardous fillings. Similarly, authorities in the
United Kingdom have actively seized and recalled various
squishy toy models over severe choking, chemical, and
physical safety defects.
To address these risks at a
regulatory level, the Consumer Council will be formally
writing to regulatory authorities to urge swift
administrative action and market intervention. In the
meantime, the Council will continue monitoring local traders
and encourages members of the public who encounter
defective, unlabeled, or leaking squishy toys to report them
immediately via the Toll-Free Line at
155.
