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Original poster

Squishy causes CANCER?

28 replies

Bloodysquishies · 03/07/2026 20:41

My child is obsessed with squishes. I’ve just seen the news about potential cancer linked to them.
Can anyone confirm if it’s true or not before i throw them all away

OP posts:
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Thepeopleversuswork · 04/07/2026 10:53

It doesn’t work like that. Outside of radioactive material not much “causes” cancer in that direct and linear way. Its not like a pathogen which can directly cause an illness.

Cancer is caused by genetic mutations which can be exacerbated by certain environmental stimuli of which chemicals are one . These things are probably full of damaging chemicals but you would have to be in contact with them over a long period of time for them to trigger these mutations.

They don’t sound great and I would limit access to them because they sound shit but you’re not getting cancer from having them in the house for a couple of months.

Kim5678 · 04/07/2026 10:01

BogRollBOGOF · 04/07/2026 00:02

Urgh, when these bloody things "burst" at school and the goop goes everywhere.
Because the offender totally wasn't looking for an excuse to spend half an hour washing it off their hands to get out of the lesson 🙄

What a bloody waste of time and the Earth's resources. Sigh.

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I think they should be made to a standard where unidentified goo isn’t going to end up on a child’s hands. But we are still getting kid’s toys with lead paint ending up in the UK so companies are just morally bankrupt. In my day we had balloons with googly eyes filled with cornflour, harmless when they broke! (but potentially more messy)

BogRollBOGOF · 04/07/2026 00:02

Kim5678 · 03/07/2026 21:08

I’m not surprised if it’s the cheap ones. I’ve bought a couple of things from Shein but stopped because everything smells so awful with such a strong chemical smell, god knows what they’re using in the Chinese factories. Sometimes I see videos of people cutting squishies open and playing with the goo with their bare hands and I just think they have no idea what this liquid as it’s not meant to be touched. If the ones you have are from a big brand and have been tested to British standards I would be less worried

Urgh, when these bloody things "burst" at school and the goop goes everywhere.
Because the offender totally wasn't looking for an excuse to spend half an hour washing it off their hands to get out of the lesson 🙄

What a bloody waste of time and the Earth's resources. Sigh.

ByRedTiger · 03/07/2026 23:56

WarriorN · 03/07/2026 20:56

yes this. Only a few years ago most Xmas decs went plastic free after Attenborough’s second blue planet series talking about microplastics and now it’s just endless Chinese plastic crap for fucking fiddle toys every where.

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Not to mention swuushies are a chess pool of bacteria

Original poster
Bloodysquishies · 03/07/2026 22:55

ByRedTiger · 03/07/2026 22:46

Because my child is a teen! And I know many teens obsessed. It's unreal

Im not sure after all i understand your point but never mind

OP posts:
ByRedTiger · 03/07/2026 22:46

Because my child is a teen! And I know many teens obsessed. It's unreal

Original poster
Bloodysquishies · 03/07/2026 21:54

ByRedTiger · 03/07/2026 21:32

It's a bit immature to me to find teens obsessing over this. It's a sensory thing which is something most elementary kids grow out of. To me this is a toddler toy.

What made you think it was teens? My child is 8

OP posts:
ByRedTiger · 03/07/2026 21:32

It's a bit immature to me to find teens obsessing over this. It's a sensory thing which is something most elementary kids grow out of. To me this is a toddler toy.

BunfightBetty · 03/07/2026 21:32

StillgotmyiPod · 03/07/2026 21:24

No, I was literally referring to you. As in "another poster has already posted the notice so I won't again".

Chill your beans.

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Your post wasn’t clearly worded.

No need to be rude, the explanation was sufficient.

Whu · 03/07/2026 21:28

ByRedTiger · 03/07/2026 21:27

How old are the kids? Am I the only mum thinking the immaturity these days is off
The wall?

I don’t understand this post.
What is immature? Literal children playing with toys? Or parents worrying the toys have cancer causing ingredients?

ByRedTiger · 03/07/2026 21:27

How old are the kids? Am I the only mum thinking the immaturity these days is off
The wall?

Whu · 03/07/2026 21:26

StillgotmyiPod · 03/07/2026 21:16

Another poster has already posted the notice.

Never ever buy cheap toys from China. It's not worth the risk.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1k2ydn1rz8o

Buy less. Buy better.

I agree. However, better stores certainly aren’t immune. I bought my nephew a craft kit from Hobby Craft and that got recalled months later for containing asbestos. Horrible guilt.

StillgotmyiPod · 03/07/2026 21:24

BunfightBetty · 03/07/2026 21:23

Is that comment aimed at me?

A previous poster flagged the Which information, I posted the government notice.

The previous poster posted two minutes before me, but it wasn’t showing when I began typing, so I didn’t know it had been posted. Even if I had, I don’t think it’s a major deal if the two notices are on the thread.

Show quote history

No, I was literally referring to you. As in "another poster has already posted the notice so I won't again".

Chill your beans.

BunfightBetty · 03/07/2026 21:23

StillgotmyiPod · 03/07/2026 21:16

Another poster has already posted the notice.

Never ever buy cheap toys from China. It's not worth the risk.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1k2ydn1rz8o

Buy less. Buy better.

Is that comment aimed at me?

A previous poster flagged the Which information, I posted the government notice.

The previous poster posted two minutes before me, but it wasn’t showing when I began typing, so I didn’t know it had been posted. Even if I had, I don’t think it’s a major deal if the two notices are on the thread.

Needmorelego · 03/07/2026 21:11

@Bloodysquishies I saw this online the other day.
Maybe have a look on the Which website to see if there's anything about the specific Squishies you have.

Squishy causes CANCER?
Squishy causes CANCER?
Kim5678 · 03/07/2026 21:08

I’m not surprised if it’s the cheap ones. I’ve bought a couple of things from Shein but stopped because everything smells so awful with such a strong chemical smell, god knows what they’re using in the Chinese factories. Sometimes I see videos of people cutting squishies open and playing with the goo with their bare hands and I just think they have no idea what this liquid as it’s not meant to be touched. If the ones you have are from a big brand and have been tested to British standards I would be less worried

HoraceCope · 03/07/2026 20:57

i thought you meant jelly fish

MinnieCoops · 03/07/2026 20:57

Bloodysquishies · 03/07/2026 20:54

what do we class as counterfeit? The cheap ones from ‘one stop shops’?

Yes

WarriorN · 03/07/2026 20:56

ByRedTiger · 03/07/2026 20:42

I'm even if they don't the time wasted and environmental pollution is outrageous. I'm so angry about this trend.

yes this. Only a few years ago most Xmas decs went plastic free after Attenborough’s second blue planet series talking about microplastics and now it’s just endless Chinese plastic crap for fucking fiddle toys every where.

Original poster
Bloodysquishies · 03/07/2026 20:54

what do we class as counterfeit? The cheap ones from ‘one stop shops’?

OP posts:
JustMeHello · 03/07/2026 20:53

The sweets?

Original poster
Bloodysquishies · 03/07/2026 20:52

We heard it on the radio today and read it in the news. I guess just waiting for someone to come along and tell me it’s all fine

OP posts:
youalright · 03/07/2026 20:49

I think you could Google absolutely anything in the world and there will be some news story saying it causes cancer. Including your phone that you are holding right now