Spot the difference: parents warned that fake Labubu dolls could contain lead and pose choking risk | Toys

Does your Labubu have exactly nine teeth? Are its ears narrow? Or do its body parts – eyes, feet and hands – detach from its grimacing face?

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a warning to fans of the it-dolls, stating that a burgeoning market of counterfeit Labubus could pose safety risks to young children.

The fake dolls, often called Lafufus, can pose a choking risk due to potentially detachable parts and poor-quality stitching. The ACCC said it was also concerned counterfeit products could contain unsafe levels of harmful chemicals, including lead.

“Watch out for potential safety risks associated with counterfeit or fake Labubu dolls – often called Lafufus – and keep these products away from young children,” the ACCC said in a product safety release on Wednesday.

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“Lafufu dolls may pose a safety risk to consumers, especially young children. Some Lafufus are small enough to fit entirely within the mouth of a young child, while other versions may have detachable body parts such as eyes, feet and hands, and poor stitching, which may be a choking hazard.”

The ACCC provided a few brief tips to identify a real Labubu, made by the company Pop Mart, from a fake:

• Counterfeit items could have small detachable parts like eyes, feet or hands.

• Lafufu’s could have poor stitching or use cheap fabrics.

• Authentic Labubus have exactly nine teeth. Fake items could have ears that are too wide.

• Counterfeits are often sold at much lower prices.

Genuine Labubus vary in price but start at about $32 on the Pop Mart website for a keychain plush doll. More exclusive versions can cost up to $340 for a larger doll.

New South Wales Fair Trading issued its own warning about counterfeit dolls earlier this year, saying in July that while Labubus are all the rage, an underground market was targeting desperate customers.

The agency said at the time that customers should buy them from trusted online businesses and check reviews before buying the dolls.

The NSW health department notes that even low levels of lead exposure can affect children’s mental and physical development. In adults, it can cause high blood pressure and impact kidney and brain function.

“Lead exposure in children, even at low levels, can be harmful and can result in decreased intelligence, impaired neurobehavioral development, decreased stature and growth and impaired hearing,” the department says on its website.

If you believe your child has been exposed to lead, the Sydney Children’s hospital network urges parents to remove the toy or object and call their local poisons information centre.

They can advise whether to see a doctor or present to an emergency department.