A full list of 26 retailers affected by UK asbestos recalls has been revealed, including major names such as Dunelm, Marks & Spencer, and B&M. Sand contained in a number of children's products has been found to contain trace levels of asbestos.
Background on the Recalls
Over the past six months, 128 items have been recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) for containing trace amounts of asbestos. It is illegal to sell products containing any quantity of asbestos fibres in the UK due to the long-term risk of cancer and respiratory problems if inhaled.
UK Labour Party minister for product safety, Kate Dearden, stated: “It is deeply concerning toys are being sold with asbestos, and I know this is worrying for parents. We are continuing to further investigate how products containing this have entered the UK market.”
She added: “We have introduced new powers to ensure product safety is as robust as possible and are consulting on how to strengthen our work on tackling unsafe products online. Businesses must ensure they are selling safe products and act when they have failed to do so. We will continue to work closely with the EU and ensure any toys sold in the UK which test positive for asbestos are removed from sale and recalled.”
List of Affected Retailers
The following retailers have stocked at least one of the contaminated products:
- Alibaba
- Amazon
- Asda
- B&M
- BargainMax
- British Garden Centres
- Cloud Nine Boutique
- Dunelm
- eBay
- ELC
- Entertainer
- Hobbycraft
- Home Bargains
- M&S
- Matalan
- Moonpig
- Morrisons
- Sainsbury’s
- Scottish Midland Cooperative
- Smyths
- Tesco
- TG Jones
- The Works
- TikTok
- Toy Master
- Vape Superstore
Full List of Products Recalled
Smyths Toys Dig Products
- Dino Dig Sensory Bin, item code: 248772
- Dig In Kit GOLD, item code: 231105
- Let’s Dig Out Dinosaur Eggs (10pc), item code: 166403
- Gem Dig Kit (12 Gem Pack), item code: 187539
- Dig It Up Pirates 13 Treasure Set, item code: 223521
- Dig In Treasure Dig and Discover Play Gold Treasure Chest, item code: 242645
- Gem Dig Kit 8 Pack, item code: 187538
ORB Funkee Sand Toys
Full list in Annex A (13 products in total).
Kids Create
- Sand Art Kit, barcode: 5012128618222
HTI Toys Stretcherz Toys
Full list in Annex A (39 products in total).
Colour Day
- Sand Art Activity Kit sold via eBay and Amazon, PSD number: 2602-0208HGL
Stretchy Sand Toys
- Stretchy Sand Monster Truck/Car Toys, barcode: 5021813218894
- Stretchy Sand Pig Toy, barcode: 5021813217954
Hunter Price
- Squishy Sausage Dogs, product code: 22776
- Squishy Pugs, product code: 22782
ENT
- Scrunchems Stretchies Sleepy Dino Toy, barcode: 5038728153109
Galt
- Nature Craft Kit, barcode: 5011979623997
WOODEN QIYI
- Sand Activity Toy sold via AliBaba, Model: 1005008843242014-12000046913158791
Texet
- Texet Bright Start Coloured Crafting Sand Pack of 20, barcode: 5060955510875
- Texet Bright Start Fluorescent Coloured Craft Sand Pack of 6, barcode: 5060955510899
KTL (formerly Kandy Toys)
- Squeezy Splatter Pig, barcode: 5063389048747
- 2.2kg Squishy Hot Colour Gorilla Toy, barcode: 5063389048716
- 6″ Stretchy Monster 6 Assorted Stretchy Toys, barcode: 5033849995485
- Stretchy Dog Toys, barcode: 5033849929411
- Decorative Glass Bottle of Sand, barcode: 5063389109462
- 2pc Balloon Dog Toy, barcode: 5063389102319
- Squishy Stretchy Capybara, barcode: 5063389048907
- 3pcs Test Tube Science Kit, barcode: 5033849986032
- Kreative Kids! Jumbo Craft Box, barcode: 5033849045425
- Stretchy Poop Toy, barcode: 5033849027407
- Sensory Science Kit, barcode: 5033849928803
- Glitter and Glow Magical Sand Art Kit, barcode: 5033849865252
Hobbycraft
- Hobbycraft Giant Box of Craft, product numbers: 6686021000, 6505261000, 6099201000, 6597221000 and 6606171000
- Hobbycraft Sand and Pom Pom Art Kit, product code: 6669851000
- Hobbycraft Easter Bumper Craft Kit, product code: 6835991000
Addo Play Limited
- Addo Play Limited Out To Impress Sand Art Creations, product number: 318-19149-B
- Addo Play Limited Out to Impress Creative Candles Kit, item code: 318-19180-B
- Addo Play Limited Paw Patrol Bumper Craft Collection, item code: 320-14145-N
- Addo Play Limited Paw Patrol Sand Art Pictures Kit, item code: 320-14142-N
My Living
- My Living World Worm Kit, product number: LW102C
Colour Forge
- Colour Forge Basing Sand (2 Colours – Moss Green and Atlantiko Blue), Hobbycraft product code: 6873931000
Crayola
- Hunter Price’s Crayola-Branded Touchy Feely Craft Box, product code: 5061047350522
- Hunter Price’s Crayola-Branded Discovery Craft Box, product code: 5061047355015
Home Bargains
- Stretchy Gorilla Toys sold by Home Bargains, product code: 10891865 (small), 1087783 (XL)
- Craft Time Sand Art Bracelets sold by Home Bargains, product code: 47805
Dunelm
- Dunelm Novelty Doorstops
