Hamleys pulls slime toy over worrying levels of chemical

Toys contain high levels of boron, which can cause harm to unborn babies and may lead to infertility

Hamleys has pulled a slime product over safety concerns raised by consumer group Which?

The toy store has removed Goobands Frootiputti from its shelves after testing by Which? revealed the product contained unsafe levels of boron.

Exposure to high levels of the chemical can cause illness in the short term, with symptoms including irritation, diarrhoea and vomiting. However, it can also impair fertility and cause harm to unborn children.

European Union rules specify that toy slimes must contain no more than 300mg of boron per kilogramme, and toy putties must have boron levels that fall below 1,200mg/kg – Goobands had 1,200mg/kg.

Hamleys told Which?: “Ensuring the safety and trust of our customers is one of our core values as a business, and we will never compromise on the safety of our products. We work closely with our suppliers and manufacturers to ensure all products meet the legal standards for toy safety.

“As a precautionary measure we have made the decision to remove all Goobands Frootiputti from our stores while we investigate this matter further.”

Slime products have surged in popularity in the last 12 months, becoming a must-have plaything for children, although parents have previously warned of safety risks.