Urgent recall for children’s play sand after Hobbycraft admits it contains asbestos
Children’s play sand has been urgently recalled by Hobbycraft due to the risk of asbestos after a parent alerted them to traces of hazardous substances in the product.
The craft company removed the Giant Box of Crafts product from its shelves last week and subsequently issued a recall after an independent test detected the presence of asbestos in a “limited number of samples”.
This came after a parent sent samples of sand to a testing lab, which said it found traces of asbestos fibers in bottles of yellow, green and pink sand sold in the kit.
A Hobbycraft spokesperson said: “Customers who have purchased this product are advised to stop using it and keep it out of reach of children.
“Product safety is extremely important to Hobbycraft. Following independent testing of a children’s litter product previously sold by Hobbycraft, traces of asbestos were detected in a limited number of samples.”
The parent, who did not want to give his name, said: Guard: “The colored sand bottles looked extremely similar to ones I had seen in a news report about sand games remembered in Australia.
“I was concerned enough to purchase a set from Hobbycraft and send it to an accredited laboratory for testing. Three of the five colors tested positive for fibrous tremolite asbestos.”
Hobbycraft removed the product from shelves last week and said it would carry out independent testing through an accredited UK laboratory as a precaution.
A Hobbycraft spokesperson said: “In coordination with Trading Standards and the Product Safety and Standards Office, we are voluntarily recalling the Giant Box of Craft with immediate effect. This recall is being carried out as a precautionary measure in line with regulatory guidance and our own commitment to product safety.”
“All instructions regarding safe handling, disposal and refunds are available on our website, through our customer service team and in stores, and we are in the process of proactively contacting customers whose contact information we have received.”
