The manufacturer of Zhu Zhu Pets is defending Mr. Squiggles against charges the stuffed hamster contains unsafe levels of a dangerous chemical. The robotic toys are the big hit of the holiday shopping season—or they were, before GoodGuide said one model has more than the permitted level of antimony, which the consumer advocacy group says can cause cancer and heart and lung problems.
Manufacturer Cepia LLC rejected the finding, saying a statement the toys are extensively tested for safety. "They do not contain high levels of antimony in any way," an exec told CNN. "I have been in the toy industry for more than 35 years, and being a father of children myself, I would never allow any substandard or unsafe product to hit the shelves," the CEO said in the statement. (More Zhu Zhu Pets stories.)