‘Pimple popping’ toy with syringe could pose serious risks to kids: S’pore consumer safety watchdog
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The product is marketed as a stress-relieving item, with a syringe used to inject air into the squishy toy to create a blister-like bulge that can be squeezed or popped.
PHOTO: CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY OFFICE
SINGAPORE – A popular “pimple popping” toy sold here that comes with a syringe could pose serious safety risks, warned Singapore’s consumer safety watchdog.
In an alert on April 7, the Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) advised parents against buying these squishy toys for their children and to keep them out of reach.
The CPSO said it has seen social media videos demonstrating the use of such toys, with sharp needles and syringes.
Marketed as a stress-relieving product, the toy lets the user inject air into it to create a blister-like bulge on the surface that can be squeezed or popped.
It is also known as “acne squeeze toy”, “bubble squeezing toy”, “inflatable squishy toy”, “pinch toy” and other similar variations.
“The sharp needle can puncture the skin and is not sterile, posing serious risks of injury and infection to a child who may not understand how to safely handle sharp syringes,” said the CPSO, which comes under the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS).
If air bubbles were to enter the bloodstream through an injection, this could result in stroke, heart attack, respiratory failure or death.
Those who already own such toys should throw the sharp needle away safely by placing it in a hard, puncture-resistant container with a secure lid. The product should also be disposed of as general waste.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, CCS said it has not received any reports on injuries or fatalities related to the toy.
The regulator has also notified a few physical retailers supplying these toys about the risks and they have since voluntarily stopped selling them.
Local online marketplaces are also monitoring for similar products and have volunteered to remove any listings when detected, it added.
Additionally, CCS has also collaborated with hospitals, the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Consumer Association of Singapore to raise awareness among parents and caregivers about these toys.
Under Singapore’s laws, general consumer goods are not subject to pre-market approval, it said.
“Suppliers are responsible for ensuring their products meet applicable safety standards. They can be sued by consumers if their products prove to be dangerous or unsafe,” it added.
According to the CPSO, jurisdictions in Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand have warned the public about the dangers of the toy.
The Penang government has also banned the toy over similar safety concerns, Malaysian news outlet The Star reported on April 16.
Under Malaysia’s local council by-laws, those caught selling the toy risk having their goods seized and their business licences revoked, and being fined RM250 (S$80).
