Hundreds of potentially dangerous counterfeit toys have been pulled from shop shelves in a county, after worried parents complained of their “sticky texture” and “strong chemical smells”.
Trading Standards removed 200 illegal toys from sale in Lancashire over a two-week period, with buyers being warned to beware snapping up “a bargain”.
The toys, taken off the shelves in May, were found to be non-compliant as they were not correctly labelled with a UK supplier’s name and address, Lancashire County Council said.
Many of the toys look like food, such as jelly cubes, butter blocks or steamed buns, which could be a choking or ingestion hazard for small children.
Councillor Joshua Roberts said: “It is vital that consumers are careful when they buy these popular sensory toys, that the toys are safe and that they are buying the genuine product.
“As they are often cheaper than the genuine versions, they might seem like a bargain, and they can be very tempting.
“However, they can be dangerous as they have not been manufactured in accordance with stringent toy safety legislation.”
Roberts also called on businesses to “be vigilant and ensure that the toys they are selling are genuine and safe”.
