Ministry of Economy warns against popular toy: "Burns and strong odors"

The Ministry of Economy has issued a warning to parents and caregivers following numerous reports in Israel and around the world regarding injuries related to "squishy" products. According to the ministry's statement, there have been reports of burns in children and strong odors emitted from the products; therefore, the Commissioner for Standardization recommends exercising great caution when using them until laboratory testing is completed.

As part of the inspection operations of the Standardization Administration, a variety of "squishy" products from different manufacturers were sampled to check their compliance with the requirements of official standard 562 for the safety of toys for children aged 3 and up. The Ministry of Economy noted that no abnormal findings were found within the requirements of the official standard.

However, following reports of burns and strong odors, it was decided to expand the tests in an attempt to locate the source of the phenomenon. The ministry emphasized that the results of the expanded tests have not yet been received, and therefore, at this stage, it is not yet possible to determine the circumstances that caused the reported injuries.

It was further stated that the possibility that unreasonable use of the product caused some of the injuries is not ruled out. Additionally, in some cases, it was reported that the products were exposed to extreme temperatures. The Commissioner for Standardization announced that he would update the public if findings indicating a risk to the safety or health of users are received.

Meanwhile, another case was published today highlighting the potential dangers of improper use of the product. The staff of the emergency medical center of the Meuhedet health fund in Hadera treated a 13-year-old girl who suffered a second-degree burn on her palm after she tried to heat a "squishy" toy in a microwave, following videos she saw on social media. According to Meuhedet, the boiling material inside the toy stuck to her skin and caused the burn.

"The girl arrived suffering from a second-degree burn with blisters. She received local treatment, pain relief, and instructions for follow-up before being discharged home," reported Dr. Hassan Jassar, a pediatric specialist at the Meuhedet emergency center in Hadera.

Dr. Mohammed Kabha, the medical director of Meuhedet emergency centers in the Northern District, also warned against imitating online challenges. According to him, heating "squishy" toys in a microwave can cause extreme overheating of the toy's contents, severe burns, and even explosions in certain products, and he called on parents to talk to their children about the dangers involved.