Slime is what the kids play with these days. Adults, too. Its popularity seems neck-in-neck with fidget spinners. The gooey pastime is said to be soothing and stress-inducing.

Countless recipes exist online, but slime is also available in stores. Whether homemade or store-bought, it may contain too much of a household cleaning agent that can cause sickness.

Daily Mail reports:

Consumer watchdog Which? 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. 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.

Of course, Which? says they want to see fundamental changes in the ingredients of slime (but this writer wonders if borax will be replaced with a worse ingredient?)

 The groups says Toysmith Jupiter Juice, was the worst offender at four times the permitted level of boron at 1,400mg/kg.

That company was followed by CCINEE Pink Fluffy Slime, with 1,000mg/kg, and pink Cosoro Dodolu Crystal Slime Magic Clay, with 980mg/kg of boron.

Amazon has now removed those products.

You can save money and make some pretty slimes without the use of borax.

HERE are some SLIME RECIPES that contain NO BORAX!