Parents are being urged to check children’s toys after three products were recalled over concerns they may contain asbestos.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued a recall for the HGL Stretchy Sand Monster Truck, Scrunchems Stretchies Sleepy Dino Toy and HGL Stretchy Sand Pig.
The regulator said sand used inside the toys may contain a small amount of asbestos, which it warned poses a “risk to health.”
Notices published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) instruct customers to stop using the products immediately and keep them away from children.
Asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, a cancer affecting the lining of the lungs.
All three toys were manufactured in China and distributed in the UK by One For Fun Limited.
The company has withdrawn the products from sale and initiated a recall.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards said: “Stop using this product immediately and keep it out of the reach of children.”
Parents warned as toys recalled over asbestos fears
|
GETTY
The regulator has provided guidance on how to dispose of the affected toys safely.
For intact items, owners are advised to place the product in a heavy-duty plastic bag, seal it securely with tape, label it clearly and store it away from children.
If a toy is damaged and sand is exposed, customers should wear gloves and a mask before cleaning affected areas using wet cloths.
All materials, including sand, gloves, masks and cloths, should then be double-bagged and sealed.
An image of the action figures recalled
|
GOV
The Office for Product Safety and Standards said: “Keep children and other people away from areas where the sand has been used until the area has been cleaned.”
Customers can dispose of the toys with household waste or return them to a retailer where instructed.
The recall follows wider reports of trace asbestos being identified in sand used in consumer products globally.
One For Fun chief executive David Mordecai said the company acted after becoming aware of international concerns.
Mr Mordecai said: “We are aware of recent global reports concerning the presence of trace asbestos in sand used within certain consumer products.”
The regulator has provided guidance on how to dispose of the toys
|
GETTY
He added: “As a precautionary measure, we immediately conducted independent testing across our full range of sand-filled items.”
Mr Mordecai said testing identified trace contamination in three products despite current EN71 safety standards not requiring asbestos testing.
He said: “We take product safety extremely seriously. As a result, we have discontinued the use of sand as a filler in all current and future products.”
The Office for Product Safety and Standards said the recall is part of ongoing efforts to ensure consumer safety and remove potentially harmful products from circulation.