Sainsbury's has issued a recall for three types of handbags from its in-house Tu Clothing label, warning customers to stop using them due to a chemical safety risk. The affected items are the TU PU Tan Curved Top Shopper, TU Black Croc Winged Tote Bag and TU Black Belt Handled Shopper, all sold through selected Sainsbury's stores, the Tu Clothing website and online at Argos.
Reason for recall
The recall was prompted by the discovery of "excessive concentrations of phthalates" in each item. Phthalates are man-made chemicals used to make plastics more flexible. Colourless and odourless, they can be found in everyday items such as children's toys, shower curtains and vinyl flooring, and can also be used in fragrances to make scents last longer.
Exposure can occur through ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption and intravenous injection, although they tend to pass out of the body quite quickly, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. However, studies suggest regular exposure can "adversely affect" multiple organs, as well as reproductive health and child development, according to WebMD.
Refund and contact details
Sainsbury's is now asking customers who bought the affected handbags to stop using them immediately and return them to the nearest store for a full refund. The supermarket has also asked customers to "please share" the recall notice with anyone who may have received the bags. No other Sainsbury's products have been affected.
In its recall notice, Sainsbury's said: "Sainsbury’s are recalling the above products due to excessive concentrations of phthalates, which pose a chemical safety risk. Prolonged exposure to phthalates may be harmful to human health. As a result, the products do not meet Sainsbury’s safety requirements."
The notice continues: "The products were sold through selected Sainsbury's stores, the Tu website and the Argos website. We are asking customers who have purchased any of these items to stop using them and return them to their local Sainsbury’s store for a full refund. For further details or if you have any questions, please visit our website Sainsburys.co.uk/help or contact our careline on 0800 028 8303."
Wider recall context
Numerous products have been recalled from UK shelves this year, with many posing serious risks to human health. In the summer, the Daily Record reported that viral 'squishy' toys for kids were being seized following chemical concerns. Several councils began withdrawing knock-off 'squeezy dumplings' and other TikTok-loved products after noting a "strong chemical odour" and that several "lacked essential safety information."
Others were found to contain excess levels of benzene, a "colourless, volatile" liquid that can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, while exposure to large amounts may also cause a burning feeling throughout the digestive tract and skin irritation.
For more information on recalls affecting high street products, shoppers can visit the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) website, where full notices and guidance on what to do if affected products have been bought can be found.
