A children's advent calendar sold at Debenhams, The Range, Superdrug and Groupon has been recalled over a "serious chemical risk," the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has announced.
The MESOLAB Leaper Cute Anime Advent Calendar, a Christmas countdown calendar containing small toys, was found to contain a chemical that may harm children's health or cause damage to the reproductive system.
Chemical risk identified
"The product presents a serious chemical risk because the orange character contains excess Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)," the risk description reads. "DEHP is a phthalate. Phthalates may harm the health of children, possibly causing damage to the reproductive system. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011."
The OPSS, part of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), issues recalls when an item is dangerous, broken, or could pose a risk of hurting someone, making them sick, or becoming a fire hazard.
Recall and corrective measures
The OPSS has confirmed that the product has been recalled from end users by MESOLAB, and affected consumers have been contacted directly. Owners have been advised to "stop using the product immediately" and keep it out of reach of children.
The product recall details list the product type as Toys – Dolls/Soft Toys (Non Powered), with a risk level of "Serious, chemical." The corrective measures state that the product has been recalled from end users by MESOLAB, and affected consumers have been contacted directly. Owners are advised to stop using the product immediately and keep it out of reach of children. The online marketplaces where the product was sold include The Range, Debenhams, Groupon and Superdrug.
