They are the toy of the moment – palm-sized, squishy, jelly-like ‘dumplings’ with little cartoon faces that cost just a few dollars.
Sold hidden inside plastic dim sum-style baskets marked for ages three and up, the gel-filled blobs come in a range of colors – and have racked up billions of views on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube as children tear open the blind boxes to see which one they got.
But the viral craze is now raising serious concerns.
Parents have begun sharing reports online of newly opened dumplings emitting strong chemical or gasoline-like odors, of the toys ‘exploding,’ and of their contents causing burns.
In some cases, tests have also detected fumes containing potentially cancer-causing compounds.
Experts who spoke to the Daily Mail claim that while products sold by reputable retailers are likely to have passed safety tests, those purchased from less well-known sources such as discount stores or from street vendors may pose risks.
In one TikTok viewed more than a quarter of a million times, user @britnebrown sits in her car, holding two neon yellow dumplings.
She claims to have purchased them just moments before for her children from the discount store Five Below.
Most versions are solid-colored toys, though some are produced in metallic, glitter, or color-change finishes. The toy is shaped like a bao bun and is described as a sensory or stress-relief product
‘When they first took the plastic off, I could smell it,’ she explained to the camera. ‘There’s a strong smell to this. Sickening. I had to crack the window. I know [the kids are] upset, but they’ve got to go in the trash.’
She added that she had seen posts just days earlier raising concerns about the dumplings, which had already made her hesitant to buy them.
‘So just FYI, parents – don’t do it,’ she concluded.
Meanwhile, on a public Facebook group for a small town in Indiana, one parent asked: ‘Why do [squishy dumplings] smell like some kind of paint thinner?’
Others said the odor reminded them of ‘straight gasoline’ and ‘those old Sharpies you have to shake before use.’
‘My daughter had one and it exploded all over her,’ another wrote. ‘She barely touched it and the insides smelled awful.’
Last week, a UK council tested several squishy dumpling toys – with disturbing results.
The tests detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – chemicals that can evaporate into the air and be inhaled. Some have been linked to irritation, headaches, nausea, potential longer-term health effects and, with prolonged exposure, even cancer.
Rhys Harries, Swansea Council’s Trading Standards officer, warned: ‘These products are clearly attractive to children because they are being driven by online trends, but that does not mean they are safe.
‘When a toy gives off a strong chemical smell and is missing basic safety information, that should ring alarm bells for parents and retailers alike.’
So what are these ‘dumpling’ toys actually made of – and should parents be allowing their children to play with them at all?
The only widely recognized brand behind the viral trend is RMS International, which sells a $5 ‘Mystery Squishy Dumpling’ through major retailers.
But beyond that, ‘squishy dumpling’ is not a brand – it is simply a shape replicated by a wide range of manufacturers.
All toys sold in the US are subject to federal safety standards designed to limit exposure to harmful chemicals and ensure they are safe for use. However, companies are not required to disclose the full chemical makeup of their products – and RMS does not reveal the precise contents of the gel inside its dumpling toys.
To complicate matters further, experts say the market is now flooded with near-identical versions made by dozens of companies, many produced overseas and sold online under a variety of names. It is these, say commentators, that pose the bigger risk.
The squishy toys are sold at brick-and-mortar stores like Walmart and Five Blow nationwide, as well as online retailers including Amazon, Temu and Shein
The toys are typically sold in ‘blind boxes’ styled as dim sum baskets, meaning buyers do not know which color or variant they will receive until opening the packaging
Industry sources say most squishy toys are made from a pliable outer shell – often thermoplastic rubber, a stretchy plastic – filled with a soft gel or liquid.
Some manufacturers state this filling is made from synthetic compounds such as polyvinyl alcohol – a substance also used in products like glue and cosmetics.
These materials are generally considered safe when used in properly manufactured toys. But safety depends heavily on quality control and the additives used, which are not always disclosed.
As a result, it can be difficult to know exactly what is inside any given toy.
The underside of the RMS plastic dumpling container warns: ‘Contents and results may vary.
‘Not suitable for children under 3 years of age due to the presence of small parts which may present a choking hazard. Adult supervision required.’
In the US, toys must meet strict safety laws that limit harmful chemicals such as lead and require testing before they are sold.
Consumer retail analyst Carol Spieckerman said that while products from major retailers such as Walmart are more likely to meet these standards, those sold through less regulated channels can vary more widely in quality and safety.
‘What we’re seeing is a classic hot-trend cycle,’ she said. ‘A product takes off, and suddenly a wide range of manufacturers rush in to make copycats.
‘Everyone knows these trends are short-lived, so the goal is to maximize profit quickly. It becomes a free-for-all.
‘The problem is sourcing ends up all over the map and quality control becomes inconsistent. Some manufacturers are focused on standards, others are just trying to make a quick buck.’
She said this is where retailers play a crucial role.
‘Major retailers like Walmart act as quality gatekeepers – they test products, especially those aimed at children, and they’re not going to let something unsafe slip through.
‘But if you’re buying from discount outlets or unverified sellers, you really have no idea what you’re getting or where it came from.
‘For parents who care about safety and quality, it comes down to trusting retailers that have done that vetting. Otherwise, you’re taking a gamble.’
The Consumer Product Safety Commission did not respond to requests for comment.
The toy is made from a soft gel-like material that can be squeezed and stretched. It is packaged as a collectable item marketed to children aged three and above
Several UK trading standards authorities have received complaints from parents about a strong chemical odor, described as resembling paint thinner, emanating from the toys after opening
For some parents, that uncertainty has become too much to ignore.
In a series of viral TikToks, collectively viewed more than seven million times, concerned Canadian father Jordan Collinet took matters into his own hands – carrying out a DIY experiment to test just how dangerous the toy could be.
When his five-year-old daughter came home from her after-school program with a squishy dumpling toy, the Nova Scotia teacher was immediately suspicious.
‘I noticed a very, very strong smell coming off them,’ the 35-year-old said in one of the videos.
Drawing on his past experience working with paints and fiberglass, Collinet suspected the pungent odor could signal the presence of VOCs.
So he ran his own test using a handheld air quality detector.
In one experiment, where he placed two dumplings in a sealed plastic bag with the detector, within seconds, the device appeared to max out at the highest reading it could register.
In others, where he placed the detector on and next to newly opened dumplings without sealing them in a bag, the meter appeared to still registered high levels of VOCs.
However, Collinet’s DIY test was unable to identify exactly which chemicals were present – a key limitation, as not all VOCs carry the same level of risk.
The Toronto Star, a newspaper, took the investigation a step further, sending a range of dumplings to a lab for analysis.
In every toy tested, low levels of hazardous VOCs were detected.
The RMS-made rainbow dumpling emitted vinyl chloride – a known cancer-causing gas used in plastic production – at 1.10 parts per million (ppm), just above the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) eight‑hour exposure limit of 1 ppm.
In the US, both the Environmental Protection Agency and OSHA classify vinyl chloride as a hazardous substance, with strict limits on long‑term exposure.
Professor Paul Bozek, of the University of Toronto, said the levels detected were ‘below what would typically be considered a concern for short-term exposure,’ but added that it is still ‘not something you would want to be playing with for hours a day.’
Unbranded versions were found to contain a range of other industrial chemicals.
These include toluene, a solvent used in paint thinners that can cause dizziness and headaches, and dimethylformamide, a probable human carcinogen used in plastics manufacturing.
The only widely recognized brand behind the viral trend is RMS International, which sells a $5 ‘Mystery Squishy Dumpling’ through major retailers. But beyond that, ‘squishy dumpling’ is not a brand – it is simply a shape replicated by a wide range of manufacturers
Glutaraldehyde, a disinfectant that can irritate the skin and lungs, and formaldehyde, a widely used chemical and known carcinogen, were also detected.
In December 2025 – before the dumpling craze took off – Consumer Reports tested gels inside a range of similar squishy toys, highlighting potential risks across the category.
While most had a neutral pH, one – the NeeDoh ‘Groovy Glob’ – tested at a pH of 2, as acidic as lemon juice or vinegar.
Safety experts warned that this level of acidity could pose a risk of chemical burns, particularly on children’s delicate skin.
Concerns over the contents of these toys have been reinforced by reported incidents.
In one case, documented in a complaint to the federal SaferProducts.gov database and reviewed by Consumer Reports, an eight-year-old boy suffered burns on his calf and ankle after a NeeDoh Nice Cube reportedly burst.
In another, a ten-year-old girl was taken to hospital after her cube ‘exploded’, leaving her with a burn on her arm.
A separate report described a child developing what were said to be chemical burns on his hands days after a similar toy leaked.
Consumer Reports identified the cases and urged US regulators to investigate gel-filled squishy toys more widely.
The manufacturer, Schylling, disputed the findings.
The company said the Groovy Glob contains polyvinyl alcohol, which it maintains is safe for skin contact, while the Nice Cube contains food-grade maltose.
Its CEO said the pH results were ‘unsupported by Schylling’s specifications’ and suggested contamination may have affected testing – a claim Consumer Reports rejected.
Schylling also said that after selling more than 100 million NeeDoh toys, it has received only four reports of incidents submitted to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In March 2025, Consumer Reports formally urged the regulator to investigate the Nice Cube and similar products, with officials saying they were monitoring the issue.
The group has also warned against the TikTok trend of microwaving the toys, after tests showed some exploded in as little as 15 seconds, reaching temperatures above 200°F.
The Daily Mail has approached Schylling, RMS and major retailers for comment.
