Primark has issued an urgent recall for two Halloween decorations after it was discovered that the sand used to fill them may be contaminated with asbestos. The affected decorations, designed to be placed on doorsteps, have been withdrawn from sale following a warning from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
Risk to health
The regulator said the sand sealed inside the gonks could contain a small amount of asbestos, posing a potential health risk. The recalled products are a Halloween gonk wearing a pumpkin hat and a second design featuring a witch hat and grey hair.
The OPSS said: "The products present a risk to health as the sand sealed inside the gonks may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos."
"Asbestos is a banned substance because it poses a risk to health even at low levels of exposure. We recommend owners stop using the product immediately and keep out of the reach of children."
Customers can identify the affected items using the following details:
- Pumpkin hat gonk: Model number 991174794, barcode 212047125
- Witch hat gonk: Model number 991179148, barcode 212080261
How to handle the products
Anyone who owns one of the affected gonks is advised to stop using it immediately.
If the decoration is intact, customers should carefully place it inside a heavy duty plastic bag, securely seal it with double tape, clearly label the bag and keep it somewhere secure and out of reach of any children.
However, extra care is required if a gonk has been damaged and its filling is exposed. Those who have a damaged gonk should wear gloves and a mask and use wet cloths to clean the area where the product was used. This will help to prevent potentially contaminated dust from becoming airborne. The gonk and any materials used during cleaning, such as a brush and shovel, should then be double-bagged.
Refunds and disposal
Customers can take the recalled decoration back to their nearest Primark store for a full refund. A receipt is not required.
Anyone who cannot return the product to Primark should contact their local authority for advice on how to dispose of the item safely, given the potential asbestos contamination.
The recall of the two gonks adds to a growing list of consumer products that have been withdrawn, over the past few months, after concerns over asbestos contamination.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that was once used in buildings and consumer products because it is strong and resistant to heat.
However, breathing in asbestos fibres can cause serious health issues, such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. The fibres can become airborne when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed, which is why products suspected of containing asbestos should be handled with care.
