Five children's toys available for purchase in Britain have been found to contain asbestos, according to laboratory tests commissioned by the Guardian. The discovery raises concerns about the UK's product safety regime and highlights regulatory gaps between European countries.
The affected products include Fun Sand and Sand Art Bottle by HTI Group, sold by Curious Minds; Glitter & Glow Magical Sand Art by KandyToys, available on Glowtopia; and three items from Amazon: Sand Filled Weirdo, Wordpad Montessori Sand Tray, and 4 Pack Stretchy Gorilla Toy. Asbestos is illegal in UK products due to cancer and respiratory risks.
Scientists at Brunel University's experimental techniques centre detected asbestos fibres in five of six toys tested, similar to items previously recalled in the Netherlands but still on sale in Britain. Lead scientific officer Ashley Howkins noted that while quantities are small, the risk remains, especially for young children.
Amazon has removed the Weirdo and sand tray from sale and is investigating the gorillas. Curious Minds issued a recall and refunds within an hour of being notified. Glowtopia said it would remove the product and contact customers. Customers are advised to pack contaminated items in sealed double bags and seek council disposal advice.
The findings expose disjointed post-Brexit safety regulation, with toys recalled in some EU countries still sold in others. The European Commission's Safety Gate system provides only partial recall lists. Retailers criticise the UK's self-reporting system, which places responsibility on manufacturers and importers without requiring independent pre-market testing.
Wendy Hamilton of Curious Minds said there is no requirement for independent verification before products reach the market, and no alert was issued to UK retailers when similar items were recalled in the Netherlands. UK minister for product safety Kate Dearden said the government is investigating how asbestos-containing toys entered the market.
