Five children’s toys sold in Britain have been found to contain asbestos, according to laboratory tests commissioned by the Guardian. The discovery highlights concerns about the UK’s post-Brexit safety regime and regulatory gaps, as similar items were previously recalled in the Netherlands but remained on sale in the UK.
The products affected include Fun Sand and Sand Art Bottle sold by Curious Minds, Glitter & Glow Magical Sand Art sold by Glowtopia, and three Amazon items: Sand Filled Weirdo, Wordpad Montessori Sand Tray, and 4 Pack Stretchy Gorilla Toy. Scientists at Brunel University identified asbestos fibres in five of six toys tested.
Ashley Howkins, lead scientific officer at Brunel, said: “Although the risk to health is small because the quantities of asbestos are small, there is still a risk. The younger the child exposed the more chance they have of developing symptoms.” Asbestos is illegal to sell in the UK due to cancer and respiratory risks.
Amazon has removed the Weirdo and sand tray and now requires accredited lab tests before listing. Curious Minds issued a recall within an hour of being notified. Glowtopia said it would remove the product and await guidance. Customers are advised to double-bag contaminated items and seek council disposal advice.
The findings expose weaknesses in the UK’s self-reporting system. Wendy Hamilton, owner of Curious Minds, noted: “There is no requirement for independent verification before products reach the market … while importers have a legal duty to notify authorities, there is no clear requirement to notify retailers.” The European Commission’s Safety Gate only publishes partial recalls.
Minister for product safety Kate Dearden said: “It is deeply concerning toys are being sold with asbestos … We are continuing to further investigate how products containing this have entered the UK market.”
