Squishy dumplings: Warnings about chemicals in viral kids' toys

Author: Ben Leahy,
Publish Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026, 8:57pm

An overseas consumer magazine has warned children could be at risk of serious burns from squishy or squeezy dumplings toys, with one brand being recalled in the United Kingdom.

The dumpling toys of different designs come inside pretend bamboo steamers and have gone viral online.

The surprise reveal of what type of dumpling or bao bun is inside, and the soft texture similar to squeeze balls, have helped drive their online popularity.

However, UK consumer magazine Which? said the toys were now being made by a wide range of manufacturers and tests had revealed some contained hazardous chemicals.

One brand in the UK – Squeezy Dumplings sold by Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd – was recalled by the Office of Product Safety and Standards, the national regulator of consumer products.

The authority said the toys had excess benzene in their outer layers.

“Exposure to large amounts may cause a burning feeling throughout the digestive tract and skin irritation,” the authority said.

A brand called Squeezy Dumplings has been recalled in the UK but multiple manufacturers are making versions of the toy and selling them online.

Other versions of squishy toys were promoted as suitable to be heated in microwaves to make them softer, but some had burst and caused serious burns, the magazine said.

Big retail outlets in New Zealand have stocked versions of the squishy dumplings.

Kmart has currently sold out of its ‘Takumo Bao Buddy’ and Toyworld’s ‘Squishy Dumpling Bun’ is currently available.

The Warehouse’s ‘Dumpling Squishy’ is sold out online but available in some stores, while its ‘Golden Dumpling Squishy Assorted’ is available in stores and online.

There is no product recall alert on New Zealand’s Product Safety site, and no evidence to suggest the products in New Zealand contain the same chemicals as the differently-branded products recalled in the UK.

This comes the same month as Auckland company The Good Vitamin Co urgently recalled its fruit-flavoured chewable gummy products for children “Kids Good Multi” after dozens of parents reported allergic reactions.

In May, an urgent recall was issued in New Zealand for several children’s toys, including coloured play sand, after asbestos was discovered.

Planet Fun recalled multiple products sold across major retailers, after independent laboratory testing detected naturally occurring chrysotile and tremolite asbestos.

The asbestos was found in some samples of Funkee Animals and Secret Menu Stretchee Foodz.

“The asbestos has only been detected in the interior of the product, and exposure would only occur if the product is torn,” Product Safety New Zealand said.

What products are impacted?

The affected products were:

Funkee Monkee Mega PDQ (Barcode: 622222419295),
Funkee Animalz Puppies Mega PDQ (Barcode: 622222422288),
Funkee Animalz Axolotl Mega PDQ (Barcode: 622222174590),
Funkee Pig Jumbo (Barcode: 622222170899),
Funkee Monkee Jumbo (Barcode: 622222168452),
Secret Menu Stretchee Foodz Asst PDQ (Barcode: 622222168155).

The toys were sold at The Warehouse and Farmers from January 2025 to April this year, and Toyworld and Paper Plus from February 2025 to April this year.