Hospitals in the United Kingdom have documented numerous children with severe burns after playing with popular squishy toys.
Some of the toys blew up when people put them in a microwavable oven, leading to burns and subjecting children to unidentified substances.
Medical experts state the injuries stem from poisonous compounds in the soft polymer sold online.
Trading Standards officers in Gloucestershire have taken almost 2,000 these items as part of a UK‑wide enforcement drive.
The seizure follows calls from councils and consumer groups to halt sales.
Authorities urge parents to throw away any squishy toy that has been heated or shows signs of chemical leakage.