“Dangerous levels of harmful chemicals” – Scandinavian toy stores stop sale of ALL squishies

"We immediately informed all our stores to stop selling all types of Squishies." They are the IT toy of the moment, and children all over Ireland are at present lining up to spend their pocket money on so-called squishies. If you are yet to be hit up for money for one of these and unsure of what they are, squishies, which originated in Japan and Korea, are basically soft 'stress balls' for kids – in cute and colourful shapes. However, as of this week, Top-Toy, the leading retail company for toys and other children’s products in the Nordic region, stopped the sales of ALL Squishies products in their markets after a report from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency warned of harmful levels of dangerous chemicals in ALL squishies they tested. According to the test from the Danish 'Miljøstyrelsen' all the products tested contained levels of harmful chemicals that far exceeded safety limits. This is what Denmark's Minister for Environment and Food, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, had to say about the findings: "It is completely unacceptable that these toys,which are harmful to children, are for sale. It is the responsibility of the business to make sure the products they are selling are legal, safe and free from harmful chemicals. In this instance, we are talking about a serious breech, where children inhale chemicals that can potentially irritate or harm mucous membranes, as well as do damage to their reprodutive health and liver." Stopping sale of all squishies In a press release from earlier this week, Top-Toy explains their decision to halt all sales of the popular toy: "When the Danish Environmental Protection Agency yesterday contacted BR and TOYS”R”US in regards to their tests of 12 types of squishies, we immediately informed all our stores to stop selling all types of Squishies. One of the twelve Squishies tested by the EPA is sold in our stores. At TOP-TOY we take the safety of our products and the children, who play with them very seriously, and we advice our customers to keep up to date on any developments in the investigations and advise from the EPA. We will also let our customers know ourselves, when we have news in the matter."   The toy retailer also points out that customers who may have Squishies that they have bought in their stores can bring them in and get a refund. Herfamily.ie have contacted Smyths Toys here in Ireland to see if they are aware of the Danish safety warning, and ask if the squishies they are selling are safe. We have yet to receieve a response.