Squishy Toy Burns and Poison Control Calls Surge, CPSC Issues Recall as Lawsuits Pile Up on Maker

Since 2024, America's Poison Centers has logged more than 11,500 reports tied to squishy toys, the slime-filled, gooey sensory toys shaped like dumplings, fruit, and ice cubes that have become the toy aisle's biggest hit. More than half of those calls came in just the first six months of 2026, according to the organization, cited by Business Insider.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has now issued a recall covering the toys, according to WSB-TV in Atlanta. The report did not name a specific manufacturer or model tied to the recall, but it comes amid a documented spike in incident reports the CPSC has received on the category.

What's Actually Happening to Kids

Business Insider detailed the case of 10-year-old Violet Zerbst, who microwaved a glittery squishy cube for 30 seconds in June to make it easier to squeeze. When she pulled it out, it erupted, sending steaming gel across her face and peeling skin from her lip. Her mother, Katie Zerbst, told Business Insider she heard a "guttural" moan before finding her daughter covered in the goo.

In Atlanta, a grandmother named Virginia told WSB-TV her 4-year-old grandson was playing with a squishy dumpling toy when it burst without warning. "It was all over the place. The dumpling just burst, and it was in his nose, his mouth," she said.

Laura Abbert, a nurse practitioner at Shriners Children's Hospital, told WSB-TV her hospital has treated a child who microwaved a squishy, had it explode, and suffered second-degree burns across her face, neck, wrist, and hands.

Gaylord Lopez, executive director of the Georgia Poison Center, told WSB-TV his office has fielded calls describing nausea, vomiting, and skin irritation. He said many knockoff or non-name-brand squishies "contain really toxic chemicals," and warned that a social media trend encouraging people to freeze and then microwave the toys is driving burns: "It'll pop and then release very hot, sticky gel, which then adheres to the skin and causes second- or third-degree burns."

Not Always User Error

Some of the incidents don't fit a misuse narrative. Business Insider reported that Schylling, maker of the top-selling NeeDoh brand, was hit with two lawsuits in July 2026 over squishy explosions plaintiffs say caused severe burns. One complaint alleges a NeeDoh Nice Cube sitting on a TV stand near a window, cool to the touch, erupted with scalding gel and blistered a plaintiff's leg the moment it was squeezed, no microwave or freezer involved. Lawyers for Schylling declined to comment to Business Insider on the allegations.

A reasonable defense of the industry is that a lot of the worst burns trace back to parents or kids deliberately microwaving toys never designed to be heated, which is user misuse rather than a manufacturing defect. Georgia's Lopez himself flagged the social media freeze-and-microwave challenge as a driver. The Nice Cube lawsuit, if the allegations hold up, suggests at least some toys are rupturing under normal handling. That points to a possible defect claim, not just a warning-label issue.

The Regulatory Gray Zone

Business Insider's reporting found squishies sit in a murky spot in U.S. toy regulation. They're classified broadly as "sensory toys," the same bucket as fidget spinners, kinetic sand, and magnetic balls, and the market is flooded with counterfeits and off-brand knockoffs that may not meet the same material standards as brand names.

The category's popularity is not in dispute. Five Below CEO Winnie Park told investors the toys have gone "from zero to hero" and are helping drive store traffic, and Kohl's has also credited squishies with a sales bump, according to Business Insider.

WSB-TV's reporting confirms a recall has been issued but does not specify which brand, model, or unit count is covered, unlike the CPSC's detailed September 18 recall notice on 195,000 JKMax heated blankets tied to 53 burn injuries. Parents will need to watch for a CPSC.gov notice naming the specific squishy products affected, and the two Schylling lawsuits filed in July remain pending in court with no rulings yet reported.