The government has reported that nine out of 76 sensory toys, including popular items like 'Malang-i' and squishies, failed to meet safety standards due to the presence of harmful substances. Among these, two slime products that received KC certification were found to contain banned preservatives, prompting a recall order.
The National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that harmful substances exceeding safety limits were detected in nine of the 76 sensory toys tested. The investigation included 37 KC-certified children's products and 39 adult products labeled for use by those aged 14 and older, which did not have KC certification.
Sensory toys, which return to their original shape after being squeezed, have gained popularity among both children and adults due to their soft texture. The institute conducted a focused investigation amid growing concerns about the safety of these products.
Among the KC-certified children's products, 'Pinkfoot Slime' from Pinkfoot and 'Honey Slime' from Little Eye were deemed non-compliant. Both products contained banned preservatives, including methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT). As a result, the Ministry of Trade has issued a recall order for these items.
Products labeled for use by those aged 14 and older were also tested under children's safety standards. Of the 39 products, seven were found to contain phthalate plasticizers and boron above the permissible limits, or banned preservatives. Some adult slimes had boron levels 11.4 times higher than the children's product standard. In the case of Malang-i products, phthalate plasticizers were detected at levels 3.4 times above the limit.
The National Institute of Technology and Standards is enhancing market inspections to prevent adult-labeled sensory toys from being sold to children. Since July, local governments have been inspecting areas with a high concentration of toy retailers, advising them to separate these products from children's toy displays. With the start of the school year, inspections around elementary school stationery stores are being intensified.
Online, consumer groups are verifying whether adult-labeled products are being sold in the children's category and have requested major platforms to strengthen their own monitoring. Additionally, the institute plans to revise safety requirements regarding harmful chemicals that may cause odors in sensory toy materials and surfaces.
The institute stated, 'Products labeled for use by those aged 14 and older may not have guaranteed safety, so it is essential to check for the KC mark when purchasing children's products.' It added that it will continue to conduct safety investigations and crack down on illegal and substandard products to ensure the safety of toys available in the market.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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