40 Toys from Past Decades That Were Taken Off the Shelves Due to Public Backlash

Thingmaker Creepy Crawlers, introduced in the 1960s by Mattel, allowed children to create their own rubbery insects and creatures using molds and a heated oven. However, the heated molds and liquid plastic posed burn hazards, and there were reports of children suffering from injuries while using the toy. Additionally, some of the plastic compounds contained harmful chemicals that emitted toxic fumes when heated.

These safety issues led to recalls and legal challenges, ultimately prompting Mattel to discontinue the original Thingmaker Creepy Crawlers and related toy lines. While the toy faced discontinuation, its legacy lives on in updated, safer versions that continue to allow children to create their own colorful and quirky creatures without the associated safety risks.