The products have been listed on the .Gov site and withdrawn from sale
Nearly 40 products, including numerous children’s toys, have been recalled by the Government this year over fears the sand they contain may have traces of asbestos.
Asbestos is banned in the UK because it is dangerous to health, even in small amounts. The products have been removed from shops and recalled from customers. The Office for Product Safety and Standards is urging people to stop using the affected products immediately and keep them away from children. Advice has been given on how to safely dispose of or return the items.
The news comes as schools in the north of England reported worries over contaminated play sand. Two schools in North Tyneside were closed last Thursday (May 14) for tests to check if asbestos was present in play sand used in classrooms, but have since reopened as initial tests came back negative, reports Teesside Live.
Below is a full list of all the products withdrawn this year due to possible asbestos contamination. Links to the official Government warnings for each item are included, where complete details of the recalls can be found.
Full list of withdrawn products
- Colour Forge Basing Sand (2 Colours – Moss Green and Atlantiko Blue) – full details here
- Addo Play Limited Paw Patrol Sand Art Pictures Kit – full details here
- Addo Play Limited Paw Patrol Bumper Craft Collection – full details here
- My Living World Worm Kit – full details here
- Addo Play Limited Out To Impress Sand Art Creations – full details here
- KTL 2.2kg Squishy Hot Colour Gorilla Toy – full details here
- KTL Sensory Science Kit – full details here
- KTL Stretchy Poop Toy – full details here
- Texet Bright Start Fluorescent Coloured Craft Sand Pack of 6 – full details here
- Addo Play Limited Out to Impress Creative Candles Kit – full details here
- KTL Kreative Kids! Jumbo Craft Box – full details here
- Hobbycraft Giant Box of Craft – full details here
- Hobbycraft Sand and Pom Pom Art Kit – full details here
- Hobbycraft Easter Bumper Craft Kit – full details here
- KTL Squishy Stretchy Capybara – full details here
- KTL 3Pcs Test Tube Science Kit – full details here
- KTL Decorative Glass Bottle of Sand – full details here
- KTL 6″ Stretchy Monster 6 Assorted Stretchy Toys – full details here
- Multi-Colour Ultra-Fine Quartz Sand – full details here
- KTL Squeezy Splatter Pig – full details here
- Texet Bright Start Coloured Crafting Sand Pack of 20 – full details here
- Scrunchems Stretchies Sleepy Dino Toy – full details here
- HGL Stretchy Sand Pig Toy – full details here
- KTL 2pc Balloon Dog Toy – full details here
- KTL Stretchy Dog Toys – full details here
- WOODEN QIYI Sand Activity Toy – full details here
- Sand Art Activity Kit – full details here
- HGL Stretchy Sand Monster Truck/Car Toys – full details here
- Squishy Sausage Dogs and Squishy Pugs – full details here
- ORB Funkee Sand Toys – full details here
- Stretchy Gorilla Toys – full details here
- Craft Time Sand Art Bracelets – full details here
- Kids Create Sand Art Kit – full details here
- Galt Nature Craft Kit – full details here
- Smyths Toys Dig Products – full details here
- Hunter Price’s Crayola-Branded Discovery Craft Box – full details here
- HTI Toys Stretcherz Toys – full details here
- Hunter Price’s Crayola-Branded Touchy Feely Craft Box – full details here
- Dunelm Novelty Doorstops – full details here
In North Tyneside, Director of public health Louise Gray said health experts had assessed the risk to children as “low”. She stated: “Following a product recall relating to play sand and the potential presence of asbestos, we are working closely with schools across the borough, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and our partners to ensure a coordinated and precautionary response.”
She added: “The safety and wellbeing of children and staff remain our absolute priority. As a precaution, we are supporting schools to temporarily restrict access to areas where play sand is present, providing additional reassurance while further checks are undertaken. Expert advice from UKHSA indicates that the risk to health is low, which is reassuring. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will take any further action necessary, in line with national guidance.”
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