Belgium Probes Squishy Toys Over Cancer-Causing Chemicals
The Belgian Federal Public Service Economy (FOD Economie) has launched an investigation into squishy toys, including the popular “squishy dumplings,” following consumer complaints about a strong chemical odor and laboratory findings that revealed potentially carcinogenic substances, VRT NWS reported.
What the Tests Found
Toxicologist Prof. Jan Tytgat of KU Leuven, commissioned by Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, tested three squishy dumpling samples — one from a fair, one from Bol.com, and one from Standaard Boekhandel. All three contained potentially carcinogenic substances: xylene, benzene derivatives, and naphthalene derivatives — compounds naturally found in crude oil, according to the research.
“Our analyses show that potentially carcinogenic substances are detectable,” Tytgat said. “These include xylene, benzene derivatives, and naphthalene derivatives: products that naturally occur in crude oil.”
Tytgat drew a stark comparison: “As adults, we wouldn’t just touch gasoline with our bare hands. You won’t get sick immediately, but it’s not healthy. I have the same feeling about these dumplings,” he told NOS.
Health Risks for Children
The squishy dumplings — squeezable stress ball toys shaped like Chinese dumplings, sold in mystery blind boxes — have become a viral trend on TikTok and Instagram among children and teenagers. The health concerns are particularly acute for young users who handle the toys for extended periods.
Short-term exposure can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, concentration problems, and respiratory or skin irritation. Long-term risks include potential carcinogenic effects from benzene derivatives. The Dutch NVWA also confirmed that the toys contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can irritate airways at high concentrations with prolonged exposure.
Toxicologist Karen Smeets of UHasselt called the situation “absurd,” telling VRT NWS: “It’s actually absurd that there are carcinogenic substances in that toy.”
Retailers Take Action
Multiple major retailers have voluntarily pulled the products from shelves as a precaution:
- Delhaize and Carrefour (supermarket chains) stopped sales
- Standaard Boekhandel (bookstore chain) removed them from shelves
- Bol.com (online marketplace) removed them from its assortment
In the United Kingdom, a similar product had already been recalled due to excessive benzene concentrations, according to a UK government recall notice.
Regulatory Gaps Exposed
The FOD Economie has taken a measured approach, stating there are currently no direct indications of a serious health risk requiring an immediate ban or withdrawal. Manufacturers, importers, and distributors remain responsible for product safety, with the agency monitoring through market surveillance and random sampling.
However, the case has exposed significant gaps in the EU’s toy safety enforcement system. Ortwin Huysmans of Testaankoop (Test Achats), the Belgian consumer organization, highlighted a critical flaw: “The requirements for such a label are rarely checked by an independent body. As a result, such a certificate loses its meaning.”
Research by Toy Industries of Europe found that 80% of toys purchased from third-party traders on online marketplaces fail EU safety standards. The problem is compounded by overwhelmed customs authorities — particularly at Liège Airport, one of Europe’s largest logistics hubs — where only a fraction of millions of incoming packages are inspected.
Huysmans warned: “Cheap toys carry a risk.”
A Broader Enforcement Crisis
This is not an isolated incident. Earlier in 2026, asbestos was discovered in kinetic play sand, leading to a similar product safety investigation and removal from shelves. The EU has some of the strictest toy safety regulations in the world, with new chemical restrictions — including bans on PFAS, bisphenols, and plasticizers — coming into full effect by 2030. Yet enforcement remains the weak link.
Belgian customs, particularly at Liège Airport — one of Europe’s largest logistics hubs — is overwhelmed by millions of packages, with only a fraction being inspected. The rise of ultra-cheap e-commerce platforms like Temu, Shein, and Wish has dramatically increased the volume of products entering the EU market. In May 2026, the European Commission fined Temu €200 million for insufficient action against the sale of illegal products.
Huysmans warned: “Cheap toys carry a risk.”
What’s Next
Minister of Consumer Protection Rob Beenders requested the FOD Economie investigation following the findings. The investigation is ongoing, with potential outcomes ranging from market withdrawal orders to import restrictions. The NVWA expects its first test results “on short term.”
Both the FOD Economie and NVWA have also warned against a social media trend of heating the toys in microwaves, which can cause the hot contents to burst and cause burns.
For concerned parents, experts recommend choosing toys from reputable retailers, avoiding products with strong chemical odors, and prioritizing sustainable materials over cheap plastics. As the investigation continues, the broader question remains: how can EU regulations keep pace with the flood of products entering the market through global e-commerce platforms?