Arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft has issued a full recall for one of its DIY craft boxes for children after confirming that some contained asbestos.
Following an alert from a parent, who had found traces of the dangerous substance in the product, the company said in a statement that asbestos was found “in a limited number of samples” of the Giant Box of Craft product, a children's craft item with 1,000 pieces.
Hobbycraft is instructing customers who bought the product to stop using it immediately and keep it out of the reach of children.
If the product has been used, customers should clean the area with wet cloths to avoid generating dust, while wearing gloves and a mask, then double bag the products as well as all items used to clean.
Customers can then return the products to a Hobbycraft store for a full refund, or dispose of it themselves and contact the retailer for a full refund.
The recall comes after a parent sent samples of the sand to a lab, which she said found traces of asbestos fibres in the bottles of yellow, green and pink sand that were sold in the kit.
The customer told The Guardian: “The bottles of coloured sand looked extremely similar to ones I had seen on a news report of play sand recalled in Australia.
“I was concerned enough to buy a set at Hobbycraft and send it to an accredited lab for testing. Three of the five colours came back positive for fibrous tremolite asbestos.”
Asbestos can cause cancer if inhaled, although the risk to children who played with the sand is thought to be low.
The sand was manufactured in China, where goods containing under 5% asbestos can be labelled as asbestos free.
Hobbycraft released a statement, saying: “In coordination with trading standards and the Office for Product Safety and Standards, we are voluntarily recalling the Giant Box of Craft with immediate effect.
“This recall is being undertaken as a precaution, in line with regulatory guidance and our own commitment to product safety.
The statement added: “Product safety is of the utmost importance to Hobbycraft. Following independent testing of a children’s sand product previously sold by Hobbycraft, traces of asbestos have been identified in a limited number of samples.
"The product was removed from sale immediately after concerns were raised, and there is no evidence of any injury or harm to customers."
"Full instructions on safe handling, disposal and refunds are available on our website, through our customer services team, and in stores, and we are in the process of proactively contacting customers where we have their contact details.”
