WARNING Toy Slime Could Be Making Children Seriously Ill

A consumer watchdog has found some slime products contain potentially unsafe levels of the chemical boron, which in excessive levels causes short-term bouts of diarrhoea, vomiting and cramps.

Boron is found in the compound borax, which is used to make slime thick and sticky.

However the European Chemicals Agency warns boron may damage fertility and cause serious eye irritation – and could cause harm to unborn children if pregnant women come into contact with it, shares daily mail.

Researchers tested the most popular slimes sold by major retailers and those recommended to children online.

They found eight out of the 11 tested exceeded the EU safety limit for boron of 300mg per kg. Some were more than four times over the limit.

Nikki Stopford, director of research and publishing at Which?, said: ‘Parents buying slime for their children … will be shocked to find that the health of their children could be put at risk.’

Home-made slimes have previously raised concerns over borax, with reports that children have suffered injuries after trying to copy slime recipes found online.

But Which? is now calling for ‘fundamental changes’ to the product safety system after its tests.

Share your comments below

21 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 01 Oct 2022
    9:19 am
My kids never had this product to play with…thankfully

- - mom81879 said
  - 01 Nov 2018
    5:42 pm
Uh oh, I gave my grandson a slime for his bday. It was a make your own kit, so maybe it’s safe. Will check it out though

- - Blossom said
  - 17 Sep 2018
    9:08 pm
Food colouring in clear glue or homemade paste might be a safer alternative.

- - Ellen said
  - 19 Aug 2018
    7:44 am
My kids love slime, but I hate it ! Will show them this article.

- - mom317503 said
  - 07 Aug 2018
    9:25 pm
My first child hated daycare with all their heart so we took them back home, and I switched to part-time job to keep an eye on them and prepare them to school. It actually worked.

- - tessie said
  - 22 Jul 2018
    9:47 am
Don’t know why they make this anyway. There’s so many other things for kids to play with.

- - mom111059 said
  - 21 Jul 2018
    3:48 pm
Plenty of other things to play with. Just get rid of the slime.

- - nadine_hill said
  - 20 Jul 2018
    10:34 am
This is worrying and I’m surprised it is allowed for sale knowing this!

- - sambii said
  - 20 Jul 2018
    7:51 am
My husband and I aren’t huge fans of it, but we take one for the team and let our Punks have it occasionally as it makes them happy. It’s so easy to make, though, so we also use it as an activity opportunity that we can do together.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 19 Jul 2018
    6:08 pm
Easy fix. Make your own! It’s fun making it as well as playing with it!

- - mom111059 said
  - 19 Jul 2018
    2:05 pm
Oh dear. Know what’s not on the Christmas list from now on.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 19 Jul 2018
    12:43 pm
Wow, if a product has any reason to be unsafe, remove it. Simple.

- - mom305419 said
  - 19 Jul 2018
    4:01 am
Oh goodness! My kids all love slime! Me- not so much ????

- - mom74005 said
  - 18 Jul 2018
    6:02 pm
Yeah i’m Not fond of slime. But I see why children love it. Just proof that sometimes you need to make these things at home to ensure it’s child friendly.

- - ella12 said
  - 18 Jul 2018
    2:25 pm
I don’t much like slim but this is very worrying.

- - curlytops said
  - 18 Jul 2018
    1:43 pm
They should be tested before they go on shelves to prevent this sort of thing happening.

- - BellaB said
  - 18 Jul 2018
    12:48 pm
I can’t remember the last time I heard anything good about slime.

- - mom93821 said
  - 18 Jul 2018
    5:42 am
I am surprised that safety standards and testing allow some products through onto shelves.

- - mom114371 said
  - 18 Jul 2018
    5:19 am
Slime is a craze that needs to stop. I’m forever seeing photos of kids that have smashed it into carpet or it stuck in their hair now this!

- - mom90758 said
  - 17 Jul 2018
    7:31 pm
Those products have never inspired me. 🙁