Wax Pop Balls and Squishies Captivate People in Their 20s and 30s... Hazardous Substances Found in 60% of Products Tested

[Financial News] Preservatives prohibited under Korean toy safety standards and phthalate plasticizers exceeding permitted limits were found in some Wax Pop Ball and Squishy products, which are popular among children and people in their 20s and 30s. When Squishies were heated in a microwave, some products burst within tens of seconds, while surface temperatures exceeded 170°C, posing a significant burn risk.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) on the 23rd, a safety and labeling survey of 15 tactile toy products sold on online platforms—including eight Wax Pop Ball products and seven Squishy products—found hazardous substances exceeding Korean toy safety standards in nine products (60.0%). Although 14 of the products were labeled for ages 14 and older and were therefore not subject to children's product safety standards, they were tested against the same standards because children could realistically use them.
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT), preservatives prohibited under toy safety standards, were detected in all eight Wax Pop Ball products. MIT levels ranged from 3.90 to 9.87 mg/kg, while CMIT levels ranged from 11.29 to 31.07 mg/kg. One product also contained 1,533 mg/kg of boron, or 1.3 times the permitted limit of 1,200 mg/kg.
One of the seven Squishy products contained 0.66% phthalate plasticizers, 6.6 times higher than the toy safety standard of 0.1% or less. MIT and CMIT can cause allergic skin reactions or eye irritation, while excessive exposure to boron can lead to digestive and metabolic disorders. Phthalate plasticizers are endocrine-disrupting substances that can damage the liver and kidneys.
The survey also confirmed a burn risk associated with microwave heating. After cases of burns caused by heating Squishies in a microwave were reported to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS) in April and May this year, the KCA heated seven products in a 1,000-watt microwave for up to three minutes. Four products burst within 25 seconds to 2 minutes and 30 seconds, and the surface temperatures of all seven products rose to between 70.0°C and 171.2°C immediately after heating.
Labeling, including safety instructions, was also inadequate. Eight of the 15 products failed to properly include general information such as the model name, manufacturing date, importer’s name and recommended age. Five products lacked warnings about high temperatures or open flames, and five of the 13 products that could be mistaken for food did not carry a warning against ingestion.
The KCA recommended improvements to 17 businesses that sell or import 13 products requiring quality or labeling improvements. Of these, 12 businesses said they had completed measures such as suspending sales or improving labels, or had responded with plans for improvement.
A KCA official advised, "For tactile toys that children will use, choose products bearing the Korea Certification (KC) mark and do not use them for purposes other than their intended use, such as heating them in a microwave. If skin rashes or breathing difficulties occur during use, stop using the product immediately and consult a medical specialist."
[email protected] Kim Hyun-ji Reporter