Viral Squeezy Dumpling toy asked to be removed from market due to potential carcinogen

A popular viral toy known as Squeezy Dumpling is facing calls for its removal from the Argentine market amid concerns it may contain dangerous levels of a carcinogenic substance. The Argentine Chamber of the Toy Industry (CAIJ) has filed a complaint urging the immediate withdrawal of the "sensory and anti-stress" toy, which is shaped like an Asian dumpling.

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The benzene is a confirmed carcinogenic substance that can be absorbed through the skin during normal handling of the toy, without the need for the child to put it in their mouth.

The CAIJ alleges that the Squeezy Dumpling, also known as Squishy, contains benzene, a substance found in crude oil and tobacco smoke, which is classified as a carcinogen. According to the chamber, benzene can be absorbed through the skin during normal handling, even if the child does not put the toy in their mouth. The complaint is based on warnings issued by the European Safety Gate system and the UK's Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), whose safety criteria are considered equivalent to those applied in Argentina.

Matías Furió, president of CAIJ, highlighted the urgency of the situation with the upcoming Children's Day on August 16. He advised parents to carefully inspect toy packaging, looking for three key indicators: the responsible importer's details (name, company name, and tax ID), warnings in Spanish, and a conformity mark (a QR code with "AR"). "If any of these three elements are missing, do not buy it," Furió warned, emphasizing that the absence of these details means no one can be held accountable if something happens to a child.

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I ask every father and mother that, before buying any toy, they look at the packaging. A safe and legal toy must have three things: the data of the responsible importer, name, company name and CUIT, , all warnings written in Spanish, and the Conformity Mark, which is the QR code with the acronym AR and two accents.

The Squeezy Dumpling has already been withdrawn from the market in the United Kingdom after authorities detected benzene concentrations four times higher than the permitted limit. The toy is reportedly sold in numerous shops in Buenos Aires' Once neighborhood. The government has reportedly initiated actions following discussions with the CAIJ.

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If any of these three elements are missing, do not buy it. It doesn't matter if the toy looks nice, if it's viral on social media, or if the price is tempting: without that information, there is no one who will respond if something happens to your child.