{
  "id": 1425277,
  "title": "Squishy toys boom worldwide despite chemical and bursting risks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/squishy-toys-boom-worldwide-despite-chemical-and-bursting-risks",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-17T05:14:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260817/p2a/00m/0na/019000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Soft, squishable toys that delightfully change shape when squeezed are soaring in popularity worldwide. Featured in a recent New York Times article, these squishies have become particularly popular in Thailand, Japan, and the United States. Their appeal lies in the unique sensation they provide when squeezed or crushed, making them sought-after stress relievers for both children and adults.\n\nHowever, the surge in demand has also raised safety concerns. Inspections in Thailand have led to the seizure of thousands of squishies that did not meet safety standards, with some products being found to contain harmful substances like benzene, a known carcinogen. In Britain, authorities have called for a recall of squishies due to the detection of harmful substances, and there have been reports of accidents involving heated squishies causing serious burns. In the United States, children's hospitals have treated patients for injuries sustained from squishies, including the need for skin grafts. Moreover, there have been instances where squishies left in hot vehicles have burst, resulting in burns to young children.\n\nThe negative publicity has impacted stores that sell squishies that comply with safety standards, with sales dropping to less than half their previous peak, as one store owner attributed to the negative news coverage.",
  "summary": "BANGKOK (Mainichi) -- Soft, springy, squishy to the touch -- and somehow soothing. \"Squishies,\" toys prized for their distinctive sensation when squee",
  "key_points": [
    "Squishy toys gain worldwide popularity.",
    "Safety concerns spark seizures and recalls.",
    "Injuries reported in hospitals and from hot squishies."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The rising popularity of squishy toys has sparked safety concerns, prompting seizures, recalls, and injury reports, which in turn has hurt sales for compliant retailers, dampening the market for these stress-relieving items.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}