Asbestos found in more toys

There has been increasing public concern regarding potential asbestos contamination in sand-containing children's toys such as science/craft kits, archaeology kits, squishy toys and decorative doorstops. Over 100 children's sand and craft toys have been recalled after they were found to contain small amounts of asbestos in the first 6 months of 2026 alone, and more continue to be announced.

Major brands affected include Hobbycraft, Orb Toys, Stretcherz and KTL. These toys were widely sold at retailers such as Smyths Toys, The Entertainer, Asda, Tesco, Aldi, M&S and B&M.

This is not a minor product safety issue, in fact the UK government’s own product safety minister described the situation as "staggering" and the consumer group Which? called it “shocking”.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen with no recognised safe level of exposure. However, the recalled products generally contain relatively low levels of asbestos, and a one-time brief exposure is a much lower risk than the prolonged occupational exposure that causes most asbestos-related disease.

It appears that the majority of the recalled products share a common source in that they contain sand contaminated with asbestos. Both sand and asbestos occur naturally, and in some parts of the world, can be found in the same geological deposits.

The key issue is control of the supply-chain - if appropriate quality control and testing procedures aren't followed, asbestos fibres can enter the manufacturing process and ultimately become incorporated into products.

If you suspect you own an affected item, stop using it immediately. Check the full list of asbestos-related recalls at https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls?keywords=asbestos and follow the disposal guidance. Most recalled products can be returned to the shop or online retailer for a refund.