More than 30 children's toys, ranging from sand art kits to stretchy rubber toys, have been recalled in the UK since the start of the year after being found to contain asbestos. Retailers including Tesco, Primark, Matalan, Smyths Toys, The Entertainer, Aldi, Argos, Asda, and M&S have removed the products from shelves, according to recall information on the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) website.
Asbestos Risks and Origins
Asbestos causes mesothelioma, a cancer that typically begins in the layers of tissue covering the lungs. The UK prohibits the sale of products containing asbestos in any quantity. It is believed that the affected toys all contain sand from mines in China, where asbestos fibres can occur naturally and labelling regulations are less rigorous.
Consumer Advice
Consumers are urged to check if they own these products by visiting the recalls page of the OPSS on the gov.uk website. If they do, they should stop using them immediately and store them securely out of reach of children. If the sand is still in its packaging, consumers should place it in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double-tape it securely, and return it to the place of purchase.
Notable Recalls
In January, Hobbycraft withdrew its Giant Box of Craft kits after a customer alerted the company to asbestos traces in the bottles of coloured sand. Hobbycraft issued a national recall, instructing customers to seal the contaminated bottles in double bags and seek council advice on disposal. Since then, it has recalled four further craft sets containing sand.
In March, the OPSS issued a technical advisory note for businesses on testing for asbestos in consumer products containing sand, such as toys and hobby items. Earlier this month, the OPSS recalled the HGL Stretchy Sand Monster Truck, Scrunchems Stretchies Sleepy Dino Toy, and HGL Stretchy Sand Pig due to potential asbestos contamination. All three toys originate from China and are distributed by One For Fun Limited.
One For Fun chief executive David Mordecai stated that the company had become aware of global reports concerning trace asbestos in sand used in certain consumer products and had immediately conducted independent testing across its full range of sand-filled items. He said: “We take product safety extremely seriously. As a result, we have discontinued the use of sand as a filler in all current and future products.”
Government and Industry Response
Minister for product safety Kate Dearden commented: “It is staggering toys are being sold with asbestos, and I know how concerning this will be for parents. We’re taking action with new measures to strengthen consumer protection and clamp down on irresponsible sellers.” She added that the government works closely with the EU, Trading Standards, and the toy industry to ensure businesses act immediately and any products testing positive for asbestos are removed from sale and recalled.
The consumer group Which? stated that the number of recalls in the last three months points to a serious failure in safety checks. Which? head of consumer protection policy Sue Davies said: “The Office for Product Safety and Standards needs to take action and ensure proper checks are being carried out to keep dangerous products off the shelves. It should also examine whether toys containing asbestos are being sold on online marketplaces where there is far more limited regulation.”
International Context
In November, contaminated play sand found in Australia and New Zealand led to government recalls and the closure of schools and nurseries. However, similar products remained on sale in the UK and Europe. Laurie Kazan-Allen of the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat noted: “The UK recalls since then are a result of individual tests carried out by manufacturers and sellers and not of testing by the UK authorities.”
Hobbycraft said in a statement: “We take the safety and quality of our products extremely seriously. Earlier this year, following a customer query, we took immediate action to investigate concerns relating to sand-based craft products. As a precaution, we removed affected products from sale and initiated further testing. While initial supplier testing and certification met required standards, more advanced testing identified trace levels of asbestos in certain products. We acted quickly to notify the relevant authorities, including the OPSS, and issued recalls to customers. We have since removed all sand-based products from sale and continue to work closely with our suppliers and regulators to ensure the highest safety standards are met.”
