Potentially toxic “squishy dumplings” taken off store shelves

Squishy dumplings – those colored stress balls in the shape of Asian dumplings sold in plastic iterations of bamboo steamers and all the rage on social media – have been taken off the market by several stores due to potentially carcinogenic substances.

Bol.com has removed the popular children’s toy from its webshop, as have Belgian supermarkets Carrefour and Delhaize, after the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws hired Flemish toxicologist Jan Tytgat to investigate them following parental complaints of a sharp chemical smell emanating from the toys. He called his findings “worrying”.

“Our analyses indicate that potentially carcinogenic substances are detectable,” Tytgat told the Belgian paper. “These include xylene, benzene derivatives, and naphthalene derivatives, products that occur naturally in crude oil.” Hence the dumplings’ gasoline smell.

The Dutch food safety authority NVWA said it has received several reports of the chemical smell and will take samples of the squeeze toy to see what’s in them. Results are expected in the next two weeks.

But Bol.com isn’t waiting for them. “We attach great value to the quality of the assortment on our platform. That is why we have taken all squishy dumpling products offline as a precaution,” the online retailer told NU.

Candy store Jamin is also monitoring the situation, waiting for the NVWA’s advice. “Following the media coverage, we immediately alerted our franchisees to the potential dangers. We are also helping them identify which suppliers offer which squishies. We will no longer sell variants that are not permitted.”

According to Tytgat, the substances found in squishy dumplings can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and concentration problems. “Irritation in the lungs can also occur because the substances are volatile,” he said. “You don’t get sick immediately, but [I feel] it isn’t healthy.”