Safety Guides
Discover the latest in product safety, recall procedures, and tips to protect your household.
Discover the latest in product safety, recall procedures, and tips to protect your household.
Asbestos is usually associated with old buildings, roofing, insulation and renovation work — not children’s toys. But recent official recalls in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada show a more unusual safety issue: some children’s sand products, craft kits and sand-filled toys have been recalled because the sand may contain asbestos.
For parents, this is worrying because the product may look completely normal. A coloured sand kit, sensory craft box, sand art set or stretchy toy can sit in a child’s room, classroom, party cupboard or childcare centre for months or years before anyone connects it with an official recall notice.
This guide explains what has happened across Australia, the US, the UK and Canada, what types of products parents should check first, and what to do if you find one of the affected products at home, school, nursery or childcare.
Many toy recalls are easy to understand: a small part breaks off, a battery compartment opens, or a product creates a visible choking hazard. Asbestos contamination is different. You cannot reliably judge the risk by looking at the toy.
The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards says there is no safe level of asbestos in consumer products, although asbestos bound inside an intact product is less harmful than fibres that become airborne and small enough to breathe in. OPSS says that where asbestos is identified, a product recall is appropriate.
Australia’s ACCC has also published specific disposal and health advice for recalled decorative and coloured sand products. The ACCC says a range of decorative and coloured sand products for children has been recalled because they may include asbestos, while also noting that expert advice indicates a very low risk to human health from the recalled products tested so far.
That is the important balance for parents: do not panic, but do not ignore the recall. If a product is named in an official notice, stop using it and follow the official instructions for your country and retailer.
Australia is one of the most important markets to include in this article. The ACCC has an active safety issue around decorative and play sand products, and its recall search for sand/asbestos shows multiple official recall entries, including items tagged under kids’ toys and arts and crafts toys.
One major example is the Active Sand tub 14 piece Sand Castle Building Set, sold at Kmart and Target. The ACCC says the product was recalled because samples tested positive for tremolite asbestos, which is a prohibited substance in Australia. The recall covers the Active Sand tub 14 piece Sand Castle Building Set, including Anko-labelled versions, with item codes Kmart 42975724 and Target 69581984. The product was available from January 2021 to November 2025.
The same ACCC notice also makes an important distinction: Kmart cancelled the voluntary recall for Blue Magic Sand, Green Magic Sand and Pink Magic Sand because there was no evidence of asbestos detection in those products. This is a good example of why parents should check exact product names and item codes instead of assuming every sand product from the same retailer is affected.
Another Australian example is Kidsplay Crafts coloured sand and sand art party packs. The ACCC recall covers various coloured sand products, Sand Art + Plaster Party Packs, Sand Art Party Packs and Sand Art single packs. The notice says the products were recalled because the sand may contain asbestos, and that initial testing in some samples found chrysotile asbestos and unidentified mineral fibres that could be consistent with tremolite asbestos.
Australia-specific action point: check Kmart, Target, craft-party, childcare, school and activity-club products carefully. Do not only check items bought recently, because some affected products were available for several years.
In the US, the strongest current example is the Orb Funkee Squeeze Toys recall announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on 21 May 2026. CPSC says the recalled toys may contain fibrous tremolite asbestos in the sand, which can cause adverse health issues if inhaled. About 121,340 units were affected.
The recalled Orb products include two models of soft, stretchable sand-filled toys with date code 3102491A. The CPSC notice lists model 17451 as a large golden monkey and model 41929 as an assortment of smaller coloured “monkee” toys. The toys were sold at Walmart and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet stores nationwide from February 2025 through April 2026.
The US action instructions are very specific. CPSC says consumers should take the recalled toys away from children, stop using them immediately, verify the code and lot number, place the toy in a heavy-duty plastic bag, seal it securely with tape and contact the company for a refund. If the toy has ruptured or the sand has escaped, consumers are told to use a mask, gloves and damp cloths, then double-bag the toy and cleanup materials for disposal according to local or state regulations.
US-specific action point: check sand-filled squeeze toys, especially soft “stretchy” or “squishy” toys bought from discount retailers, large retailers or received as gifts.
The UK has one of the clearest official guidance pages on this issue. OPSS says it is aware of consumer products available in the UK containing sand contaminated with asbestos, and that the products have been recalled by the businesses that sold them. OPSS also says it expects further asbestos-contaminated products to be recalled where identified.
UK examples include the Grafix Make Your Own Sand Bottle sold by ASDA. OPSS says the product presents a risk to health because the sand may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos. The listed model is R06-0106/AS, the barcode is 5015934717660, and the sales period is August 2021 to May 2026.
Another UK example is the WOODEN QIYI Sand Activity Toy, sold via AliBaba, Amazon and TikTok. OPSS says the sand included in the set may be contaminated with asbestos, and the product was recalled or removed from marketplace listings. The product was intended to help children learn letters and numbers.
OPSS has also published recalls for Hunter Price’s Crayola-branded Touchy Feely Craft Box and Crayola-branded Discovery Craft Box, where the sand included in the kits may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos. The notices list multiple retailers and distributors, including large UK retailers.
Another UK example is the HGL Stretchy Sand Pig Toy, a pig-shaped sand-filled toy. OPSS lists model SV21795 and barcode 5021813217954.
UK-specific action point: check ASDA, Sainsbury’s, The Works, marketplace purchases, sand tray learning toys, craft boxes and stretchy sand-filled toys.
Canada also has a relevant official recall. Health Canada published a recall for Addo Play “Out To Impress” Sand Art Creations and Creative Candles due to possible asbestos contamination. The affected products include Out To Impress Sand Art Creations, item code 318-19149-C, UPC 5034253012607, and Out To Impress Creative Candles, item code 318-19180-C, UPC 5056289433447.
Health Canada says testing indicated the possible presence of asbestos fibres in product samples. The company reported 1,776 units of the Sand Art Creations and 2,368 units of the Creative Candles were sold in Canada, with affected products sold from October 2025 to February 2026.
The Canadian notice tells consumers to stop using the recalled products and return them to the retailer for a full refund. It also provides disposal steps if the sand is still in packaging or has already been used. Health Canada notes that Canada’s asbestos regulations prohibit the manufacture, import, sale and use of consumer products containing asbestos in greater than trace amounts.
Canada-specific action point: check Addo Play “Out To Impress” sand art products and creative candle kits, especially if purchased between October 2025 and February 2026.
Start with any children’s product that contains loose sand, coloured sand, decorative sand, sensory sand, or sand sealed inside a soft or stretchy toy.
The highest-priority items to check are:
Do not only check recent purchases. Some official notices involve products available for several years, including Australian products available from 2021 and UK products with sales periods starting in 2021.
Do not rely only on the product name. These recalls often depend on exact identifiers, and similar-looking products may not be affected.
Check:
Examples:
If you believe you have one of the affected products, stop using it immediately and keep it away from children.
Do not shake the product, pour out the sand, crush the material, vacuum loose sand, or dry-sweep the area. The practical goal is to avoid creating dust.
Follow the official recall notice for your country and product. Disposal instructions are not identical everywhere.
In Australia, the ACCC refers consumers to safe disposal advice from the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency. The ACCC advises stopping use immediately, double-bagging packaged sand, cleaning used areas with wet cloths while wearing gloves and preferably a P2 mask, keeping children away until cleanup is complete, and disposing through an authorised facility or according to state and territory guidance.
In the US, CPSC’s Orb Funkee notice tells consumers to place the toy in a heavy-duty plastic bag, seal it securely with tape, and if the toy has ruptured or leaked, use a mask, gloves and damp cloths before double-bagging cleanup materials.
In the UK, OPSS says to place unused sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double tape it securely, label it clearly, and store it out of children’s reach. If sand has been used or exposed, OPSS says to clean with wet cloths, wear gloves and a mask, double-bag the sand and cleanup materials, and keep children away from the area until cleaned.
In Canada, Health Canada’s Addo Play recall says consumers should stop using the recalled products, use wet cloths if the sand has been used, wear gloves and a mask, double-bag the sand and cleanup materials, and contact the retailer for a refund.
Do not let children continue playing with a recalled sand product while you “wait and see”.
Do not assume the product is safe because it looks normal.
Do not assume that all products from the same retailer are affected. Australia’s Kmart/Target notice is a good example: some Magic Sand products were removed from the recall after no evidence of asbestos detection was found.
Do not follow disposal advice from another country if your local regulator gives different instructions. Australia, the US, the UK and Canada all provide similar general principles, but disposal rules and refund processes can differ.
Do not forget schools, nurseries, childcare centres and activity clubs. Some Australian recalled products were supplied to educational centres and kids’ clubs, not just ordinary retail buyers.
Toy recalls are easy to miss because they do not always become major news. A parent may buy a craft kit from a supermarket, a discount retailer, a marketplace seller, a party supplier or a childcare activity provider. Months later, the recall may appear under a different brand, importer, retailer, product code or marketplace listing ID.
This is exactly where recall tracking helps. Instead of checking separate government pages for Australia, the US, the UK and Canada, parents can monitor categories like Kids & Toys, Home & Consumer, and keywords such as “sand toy”, “sand art”, “sensory toy”, “craft kit”, “coloured sand”, “stretchy toy” or a specific brand name.
RecallScope is designed to help users monitor official-source recall alerts by country and category, then save products, brands, keywords, VINs or barcodes to a watchlist. For toy safety, the main benefit is not panic. It is simply not missing an official notice that could affect something already in your home, classroom or childcare centre.
Use this checklist today:
No. The official notices apply to specific recalled products. However, parents should check sand-filled and sensory products carefully because similar-looking items may have different brands, barcodes, item codes, models and sellers.
No. Official asbestos-related sand product recalls or guidance have appeared in Australia, the US, the UK and Canada. Examples include Kmart/Target and Kidsplay Crafts in Australia, Orb Funkee in the US, multiple OPSS toy recalls in the UK, and Addo Play “Out To Impress” products in Canada.
No. You should not rely on appearance, smell or texture. Compare product identifiers with official recall notices.
Not automatically. Check official notices first. Some products are affected, while similar products may not be. If a product matches a recall, stop using it and follow the official return or disposal instructions.
Stop use, keep children away from the affected area, and follow the official cleanup and disposal advice. Some Australian recalls specifically involve supplies sent to educational centres and kids’ clubs, so institutions should check their craft and activity supplies carefully.
This guide is general information. If your child has symptoms, you are worried about exposure, or you have a specific health concern, contact a qualified healthcare professional or your local health service. Australia’s enHealth advice, cited by the ACCC, says currently available information does not recommend clinical assessment for people who may have been in contact with the recalled products, but personal medical concerns should still be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Official recalls and safety guidance now make this relevant for parents in Australia, the US, the UK and Canada.
The products may look harmless. Some were sold by major retailers, some through online marketplaces, some through discount retailers, and some through educational or activity suppliers. The safest approach is to check the exact product name, barcode, item code, model number, retailer and country-specific recall notice.
If a product matches an official recall, stop using it, keep it away from children, avoid creating dust, and follow the official disposal or return instructions. Then add relevant toy categories and keywords to your RecallScope watchlist so you do not need to rely on news headlines to catch the next recall.
Follow RecallScope for official-source recall explainers, safety tips and the most important updates. We auto-detect your country and timezone when possible.
RecallScope Team
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RecallScope Team
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