CPSC Warns About Counterfeit Squishy Toys and Serious Burn Risks

On August 5, 2026, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a consumer safety alert about fake and counterfeit squishy toys. The relevant toys may violate federal toy safety requirements. Additionally, a viral trend on social media is encouraging children and teens to microwave squishy toys, adding to potential risks and hazards.

So far, the CPSC identified 55 shipments of squishy toys that violate safety standards. The Commission worked with US Customs to prevent 355,683 units from entering the country.

When something as harmless-looking as a child’s squishy toy can pose serious dangers to children, parents need to take note. Here’s what you should know about counterfeit squishy toys and the recent warnings about potentially defective products.

Why is the CPSC warning consumers about squishy toys?

Squishy toys, which have been incredibly popular among U.S. children for years, can pose numerous inherent risks. They may contain water beads, gels or liquids, powders, sand or other filling materials that create choking hazards and a danger of intestinal blockage in the case of water beads. Additionally, they may expose users to hazardous filling materials or chemicals. Recently, the risk of severe burns has presented as well.

While even compliant squishy toys may pose some of these risks, counterfeit versions may be more dangerous for the following reasons and others:

• They may tear or break too easily, releasing small parts or filling material
• Some may contain excessive lead, prohibited phthalates, or other hazardous substances
• They may lack warnings, age grading, manufacturer information, or required testing or certifications

The CPSC warning does not apply to all squishy toys. The August 5 consumer safety alert focuses specifically on noncompliant and counterfeit products, while warnings about heating squishy toys apply more broadly.

Water beads and other fillings can cause serious injuries

Water beads have been subject to new federal toy requirements that took effect March 12, 2026. Some squishy toys contain water beads, which can expand, posing serious risks of choking, intestinal blockage, aspiration, and injury if children place them in their nose or ear.

Other filling materials may also pose ingestion, inhalation, or chemical-exposure hazards.

Serious burn risks associated with microwaving squishy toys

The CPSC discussed viral social media videos showing toys being put in the microwave or heated, then expanding, softening, changing texture, and sometimes bursting. The Commission warned that these demonstrations should never be attempted or imitated. Burns from these incidents can be particularly serious because the heated filling may burst onto a person and the sticky material can adhere to their skin and continue transferring heat.

The burn risk isn’t limited to microwaving the toys, as the CPSC also warns that leaving them in hot cars, direct sunlight, near heaters, or other high-temperature environments may result in burns.

What is a product recall vs. a consumer safety warning?

The recent CPSC announcement is a consumer safety warning, not an official recall of any squishy toys. A safety warning serves to alert the public when a product creates a potential hazard. It can also recommend precautions.

A formal recall applies to specific products and prescribes a corrective action due to the defect, hazard, or violation of a safety standard. Recall notices typically include specific information on how to identify the product, what hazard it poses, and whether consumers should return, repair, replace, or dispose of it.

Additionally, there is no need for a product to be subject to a recall for an injured person to have a possible product liability claim. On the other hand, a recall alone is not enough to legally prove that a manufacturer or seller is legally responsible for an injury.

Can you bring a defective-product claim in Arizona after a toy injury?

There are three main categories of product defects:

• Manufacturing defects: In these cases, something went wrong while the individual toy was made, although the design might not be problematic.
• Design defect: The product’s design creates the alleged danger, and thus every unit will pose that same risk.
• Inadequate warnings or instructions: The product creates risks because users did not receive adequate warnings about a hazard.

Examples of defective squishy toys could include:

• Casings that tear easily during ordinary play
• Dangerous or prohibited filling material that contains toxins or poses choking risks
• Missing warning labels that advise against heating
• Counterfeit toys that lack any required safety information

In Arizona, a plaintiff bringing a strict product liability claim must prove there is an actual defect, that the defect made the product unreasonably dangerous, and that the defect caused an injury.

The party or parties responsible may be the manufacturers and sellers depending on their role in the product’s distribution.

What if a child was hurt after following a social-media video?

Following a burn injury caused by microwaving or intentionally heating a toy, a manufacturer may argue they are not liable because the child misused the toy. However, misuse of a toy does not necessarily mean the injured person can’t bring a claim. Arizona law considers whether injury results from a reasonably foreseeable use. Additionally, if the injured person didn’t heed a clear warning on the product, that may support the manufacturer’s defense.

Some of the factors that might be relevant to the case analysis following a burn from a squishy toy include:

• Was there a relevant warning to users not to heat it?
• Was the product missing the warning because it’s counterfeit?
• Was the toy marketed to young children?
• Was the manufacturer aware that heating the toys became a known trend?
• Did the toy’s casing fail in a way it should not have?

Under Arizona’s comparative-fault laws, a consumer’s misuse of a product may reduce damages if their conduct contributed to their injury. However, it won’t necessarily prevent them from recovering compensation.

Contact Verderame Law Group Arizona Injury Lawyers about your product liability claim

Not all squishy toys are defective, but heating them can nevertheless create risks. Additionally, counterfeit toys are presenting unexpected risks for consumers – consumers who are largely children. Determining legal responsibility in one of these cases will require careful examination of the actual product, its warnings, the seller, and the circumstances surrounding the injury.

At Verderame Law Group, our experienced defective-product attorneys are prepared to help you and your family understand your rights and legal options. If you or your child sustained injuries because of a defective squishy toy, call us today or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation.