Children’s ‘Squishies’ Cake-Shaped Toy Recalled Due to Choke Hazard

The European Commission is urgently recalling a popular “squishy” toy following fears it may be mistaken for food, and cause children to choke on it.

The label of the squeeze toy reads “Squishes - Slow Rising Scented Squishy,” according to the EC’s Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products.

The label on the Slow Rising Scented Squishy toy reads “The top quality squishies come in a range of sizes” and encourages users to “relieve your stress with the adorable squishies and watch them transform as they slowly rise back to size.” The EC has ruled the toy is dangerous. Screengrab via European Commission

The foam toy is shaped like a slice of cake, and is pink and white with a strawberry on top.

“Squish it, squash it, squeeze it!” reads the label on the Slow Rising Scented Squishy, which is shaped like a slice of cake and might be confused for food, causing children to choke on its parts, the EC warns. Screengrab via European Commission

The European Commission said the toy poses a “serious risk” to children’s health.

“Risk level: Serious,” and “Risk type: Choking, Suffocation,” states the alert, posted as part of the Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products.

There are several types of squishies, and the recall relates only to the specific cake-shaped toy called “Squishies - Slow Rising Scented Squishy” and identified by the batch number 5053944678878.

“Due to its shape, colour, appearance and size, the product may be mistaken for foodstuff and the outer plastic packaging is too thin and too large,” the European Commission said in its warning.

“Small parts can easily be detached from the product and this may lead children to put them in the mouth and choke.

“If a child plays with the packaging the plastic could cover the mouth and nose, blocking the airways.

“The product does not comply with the requirements of the Food-imitating products directive and the Toy Safety Directive.”

The toy is made in China and can be bought online, but may also be found in toy shops.

People who have purchased or otherwise acquired the “Squishies - Slow Rising Scented Squishy” toy should immediately stop using it. They can return it for a refund.

The EC has ordered a “recall of the product from end users.”

The European Commission’s Rapid Alert System was created to allow national authorities to quickly exchange information about dangerous products and take appropriate action to minimize hazard to consumers.

The EC provides detailed instructions for producers and distributors how to prepare and submit a notification about an unsafe product.

Under Article 5(3) of the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC, GPSD), producers and distributors are obligated to notify the competent national authorities in EU Member States that a product they have placed on the market is dangerous.