Shopper Experiences Urges Motion After Sensory Toy Causes Chemical Burns

Over the previous decade, fidget and sensory toys have develop into a well-liked fad and a great tool for some children to advertise focus. One such class of toy is “squishy toys” that may be manipulated into completely different shapes earlier than springing again to form (assume “stress balls”).

However on March 19, Shopper Experiences (CR) issued an open letter to the Shopper Product Security Fee (CPSC) urging them to analyze a well-liked toy after two kids allegedly suffered chemical burns.

Two particular person incidents posted to SaferProducts.gov, share footage of great pores and skin accidents they are saying occurred when the NeeDoh Good Dice, manufactured by toymaker Schylling, leaked its contents onto the youngsters’s pores and skin.

In a single case, from October 2024, an 8-year-old boy was taking part in with the squeeze toy when it “busted,” inflicting the gel liquid inside to leak onto his leg, reportedly inflicting chemical burns from his calf to his ankle. A second report from this January facilities round a 10-year-old woman taking part in with the dice as supposed when the toy “exploded,” allegedly inflicting a chemical burn on her arm and necessitating a visit to the emergency room.

“We’re involved by the potential severity and scale of the product hazard, ought to one exist,” writes CR, “and respectfully ask the company to analyze this incident, this product, and gel toys extra typically.

These incidents are separate from different accidents associated to this product by way of misuse. The New York Publish experiences {that a} 7-year-old Missouri woman needed to be positioned in a medical coma after freezing and microwaving the product (one thing NeeDoh explicitly warns clients from doing). The kid had seen an analogous video on TikTok and needed to strive the experiment for herself. After microwaving the toy, the contents burst out, splattering her with molten gel and inflicting disfiguring burns on her face and chest.

On its web site, Schylling asserts that the corporate diligently assessments its merchandise in improvement to make sure they’re “assembly present security testing requirements and are non-toxic. The well being and security of our shoppers is our precedence.” The corporate goes on to notice that the outer materials of the Good Dice is made with toner and thermoplastic rubber whereas the within is full of 100% maltose “which is like melted sugar.” Certainly, there are a number of movies of customers slicing open the toy and touching the contents to no obvious ailing impact.

Nonetheless, given the severity of different alleged incidents, CR “respectfully ask the CPSC to analyze the security of the NeeDoh Good Dice and comparable merchandise, particularly any which might be the topic of security incident experiences within the CPSC’s possession or regarding shopper critiques which might be publicly accessible on digital marketplaces or retailer web sites/apps.”

In a press release to Scary Mommy, a consultant for Schylling stated…

Guaranteeing the security of our shoppers is key for Schylling. We have been disillusioned to see there had been a development on social media demonstrating product misuse of our NeeDoh model. … Schylling has partnered with social media firms, reminiscent of TikTok, to take away influential content material containing NeeDoh product misuse … [and] has made the Shopper Product Security Fee conscious and can proceed to cooperate with them.

The Good Dice and comparable merchandise from different producers are bought on-line, together with on Amazon and Walmart, and in toy shops throughout the nation.

This text has been up to date with a press release from a consultant for Schylling.