Crayola craft toy recalled over asbestos contamination fears

Crayola craft toy recalled over asbestos contamination fears

Two children’s craft kits produced by Crayola have been pulled from sale following concerns that the sand included in the sets may be contaminated with asbestos. The Office for Product Safety and Standards highlighted that the contaminated sand poses a health risk due to the possible presence of small amounts of asbestos.

This latest recall is part of a broader pattern of similar product withdrawals this year, involving children’s items contaminated with asbestos. Consumer group Which? described this as a “worrying trend,” emphasizing the ongoing risk. The government reinforces that asbestos is prohibited because exposure, even in minimal quantities, is hazardous to health.

The affected Crayola sets, manufactured in China, were available at multiple retailers including Argos, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and The Works. The recall specifically targets Discovery Craft Box kits sold between August 2025 and April 2026, alongside Touchy Feely Craft Box (also labeled Sensory Craft Box) kits sold from March 2025 to April 2026. Asda is independently recalling the Discovery Craft Box, and both kits are being recalled by Hunter Price International Limited, the importer.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards advises customers to securely seal any unused sand in heavy-duty plastic bags and store them out of reach of children. When cleaning up areas where the sand has been used, people should wear gloves and masks, use wet cloths to minimize dust, and double-bag all materials including protective gear after cleaning. It is also recommended to keep children and others away from affected areas until thorough cleaning is complete. Customers should contact the retailer where the kits were purchased to arrange refunds.

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy, expressed serious concern about the repeated recall of children’s products from well-known brands due to asbestos contamination. She stated: “It is deeply concerning that another children’s craft product, particularly from a major brand like Crayola, which is sold by big-name retailers, has been recalled due to potential asbestos contamination, continuing a worrying trend of recalls involving this deadly substance.” Davies further raised doubts about the strength of existing product safety checks, urging manufacturers and retailers to enhance their safety measures to prevent hazardous products from reaching consumers.

Additionally, she called on the Office for Product Safety and Standards to investigate whether toys containing asbestos might be circulated on less regulated online marketplaces. Attempts to obtain comments from Crayola regarding the recall were unsuccessful at the time of reporting

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