Hull authorities seize over 1,000 counterfeit toys containing carcinogen benzene

Hull Trading Standards officers confiscated more than 1,000 counterfeit children's toys marketed as “Squeezy Dumplings” after laboratory tests identified the presence of benzene, a known carcinogen that can also irritate skin, eyes, nose and throat. The fake toys, consisting of a plastic basket with a dumpling‑shaped squishy figure, were removed from shops across the city and destroyed following a national recall issued by the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

Hull City Council urged parents to check packaging for authenticity, avoid toys that list only foreign manufacturers without UK or EU suppliers, and discard any suspect items. Councillor Ted Dolman advised the public not to panic but to act promptly, and asked anyone with information on the toys' sale to contact Trading Standards.