US Baby Steps on Toxic Toys!
On May 21, 2026, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall for a range of squeezy toys that were found to contain asbestos. The toxic products were Orb Funkee Squeeze Toys which had been imported from Canada and manufactured in China.1 According to the CPSC notification 121,340 units had been sold in Walmart and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet across the US from February 2025 until April 2026: “The recalled Orb Funkee squeeze toys may contain fibrous tremolite (asbestos) in the sand, which can cause adverse health issues if inhaled.”2
 Recalled by US authorities: Orb Funkee Gold Jumbo Monkee (Model 17451). Photo from CPSC website. |
The US was, as one smart aleck from Australia pointed out (see his cartoon below), rather late to the global toxic toy recall party.
 Cartoon reproduced courtesy of Rob Wise. |
In the UK the same toys had been recalled more than two months earlier by the UK’s Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). According to the March 6 UK recall of a range of Orb Funkee stretchy toys – which included the Gold Jumbo Monkey (Model 17451) – “The product presents a risk to health as the sand may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos. Asbestos is a banned substance because it poses a risk to health even at low levels of exposure.”3 The toxic items had been sold online and at retail outlets throughout the country between July 2025 and February 2026. The type of asbestos identified in the product was unspecified.
 Screengrab of March 5, 2026 Orb Funkee Sand Toys UK Product Safety Recall4 |
Whilst the US recall was for models 017451 and 41929, no mention was made of the models 17741, 17736, 17459, 42228 and 17409 which had been subject to UK recalls.
From what we have seen over recent months, nearly all the products recalled in various jurisdictions were made in China. According to the website of The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), of the $33.6 billion (b) worth of toys China exported between April 2025 and March 2026 – under category HS4 95.03 covering other toys and recreational items (see screengrab below) – the US purchased $8.36b, making it China's largest export market for these toys, which includes this category of products and “non-human creature figures.”5 The other main destinations of China's toy exports were: Japan (1.98b), UK ($1.53b), Germany ($1.3b) and the Netherlands $1.13b) with growing export markets in Canada, Argentina and Czechia.
 May 24, 2026 Screengrab OEC website. |
Considering the prime position the US occupies as the world’s largest importer of Chinese-made toys, it is unlikely that the recall issued on May 21st will be the last.
May 26, 2026.
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1 US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Orb Funkee Squeeze Toys Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Asbestos Exposure; Imported by The Orb Factory. May 21, 2026.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Orb-Funkee-Squeeze-Toys-Recalled-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Asbestos-Exposure-Imported-by-The-Orb-Factory
2 According to a US expert, the US system is similar to that in the UK: neither Government has its own testing regime choosing instead to rely on manufacturers to test products for safety compliance.
3 UK Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). Product Recall: ORB Funkee Sand Toys (2603-0062). March 6, 2026/ Updated March 20, 2026.
This range of stretchy sand-filled toys was sold through The Entertainer, Tesco, Matalan, Hobbycraft and British Garden Centres stores and websites.
https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-recall-orb-funkee-sand-toys-2603-0062
4 Orb Funkee Sand Toys UK Product Safety Recall. March 5, 2026
https://www.thetoyshop.com/medias/orb-funkee-toys-product-safety-notice.pdf?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8ODA4NDEwfGFwcGxpY2F0aW9uL3BkZnxhRGsxTDJoak1TOHhNamN4T1RrME16VTRNVGN5T
mk5dmNtSXRablZ1YTJWbExYUnZlWE10Y0hKdlpIVmpkQzF6WVdabGRIa3RibTkwYVdObExuQmtaZ3xhNDQ3MmZlMDNhM2
M2ZjQ4MzE3YTU3ZjYzNDNkMmFmYjEwODk0MTk3ODVlNGJiMjcyNDc1MGY4MzkzMDgxMmVj
5 OEC. Other toys in China CN HS4 95.03 (Harmonized System 2017 for 4-digits). Accessed May 24, 2026.
https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-product/other-toys/reporter/chn
