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Slime, the sticky child’s toy predicted to be a Christmas best-seller, has been identified as a health risk.

Nearly half – or six out of 13 – products offered by stores were found to contain potentially harmful levels of boron, according to the consumer watchdog, Which?, shares Daily Mail.

Over-exposure to the chemical can cause skin irritation, diarrhoea, vomiting and cramps. It is found in borax – a common ingredient in slime that helps create its stickiness.

The EU safety limit for boron in slime toys is 300mg/kg but a higher 1,200mg/kg for those classified as a putty, a distinction determined by the maker.

Which? was concerned some slimes are making it on to the market because they are being marketed as putty, which is allowed to have a higher level of boron.

Please be aware of the levels before purchasing a child this gift for Christmas

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  • thankfully my girls were never interested in this stuff.

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  • Ooh yuk, I do not like this and another reason to steer clear of it.

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  • I never realised this so thank you for bringing it to our attention. I never buy this sort of item anyway. I was always worried the kids would leave it laying around and make a mess or try to eat it.

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  • Oh thank you! I actually had no idea about this!!

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  • Not something I would give to my children personally. And if the levels of Borax are too high perhaps it should be pulled from shelves and the recipe modified!

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  • I hate slime too. It just keeps rearing its ugly head.

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  • I hate slime, we banned it from our house.

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  • That would make sense, it is also really hard to clean up

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  • Thanks for the warning about this product.

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  • Regardless of how it’s made why don’t we make children wear disposable gloves and wash their hands thoroughly afterwards, If the children are allergic to latex you can buy others which don’t have latex in them.

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  • I never bought slime for my children, but we did have a recipe to make it for our kids and therefore we knew there was no nasty chemicals in it.

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  • I’ve read so many posts ‘how do I get slime off of…. ‘ that I wont buy slime for my kids

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  • And these chemicals stay in your liver for many many years and end up causing all sorts of health problems, why is their an increase in childhood diseases despite vaccination?, because of the chemicals in everything, keep it natural as possible for all the family.

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  • Hmm… so what products are actually above safe levels? Guess I’ll have to do some math because I planned on making my own. Now before people say non borax slime, just an fyi, “non borax slime” often uses contact solution, which if you read the ingredients, contains borax.

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  • I try to avoid this because it’s messy, bu kids do like it…

    Reply

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