Two more children’s sand kits found to contain dangerous tremolite asbestos
Two additional children’s sand kits have been found to contain dangerous tremolite asbestos, consumer watchdog Which? has disclosed, after independent laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of the banned carcinogen. The contaminated products were available on Amazon Marketplace, TikTok Shop, Asda and eBay, and the discovery has triggered fresh recalls and renewed calls for tighter regulation of online marketplaces.
New recalls: the affected products
The first kit is marketed as a Montessori sand art tray, designed to develop children’s fine motor skills through hands-on drawing activities. Which? found that this item remained on sale via Amazon Marketplace and TikTok Shop until May, even though the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) had issued a recall for the identical product back in March. The consumer group reported that one tray was listed by three separate sellers on Amazon Marketplace despite the existing recall notice.
The second contaminated kit is branded as GL Style Sand Bottle Art Heart or Stars and manufactured by RMS International Limited. It was purchased from Asda and subsequently identified on eBay through three private sellers.
The OPSS has now issued more than 39 recall notices since November for sand products tainted with asbestos, and investigators believe the contaminated toys contain sand sourced from particular quarries in China where naturally occurring asbestos is present in the ground. Products containing any quantity of asbestos, including trace amounts, are strictly forbidden from sale under British law.
Severe health risks of tremolite asbestos
Tremolite asbestos poses severe health risks because it can become airborne and cause serious lung diseases even at minimal exposure levels. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has designated all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic to humans, and no amount of exposure to asbestos minerals is considered safe. Inhalation of tremolite fibres is linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen. Diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases is notoriously difficult because of a long latency period — typically 20 to 50 years — from exposure before symptoms appear, meaning children exposed today may not show signs of illness for decades.
The broader asbestos contamination crisis has extended beyond retail shelves. It has forced the closure of schools and parks, with North East England among the most recently affected areas. It is estimated that more than 75 per cent of UK schools contain asbestos in materials such as ceiling tiles, floor tiles and insulation. While managed asbestos that remains intact is not considered an immediate risk, deterioration or disturbance can release fibres into the air — a particular concern if contaminated sand kits are handled by children.
Regulatory responses and retailer actions
The OPSS has updated its original March recall notice to encompass Amazon and TikTok Shop following the Which? investigation. Amazon stated it was removing all products in the affected category while investigating further. Asda initiated a full recall, advising customers to return items for refunds. eBay confirmed swift removal of identified listings, and TikTok stated the product had already been taken down.
Sue Davies, head of consumer rights policy at Which?, condemned the situation in stark terms: “It is outrageous that online marketplaces are selling products which may expose children to asbestos, especially when some of these products had already been recalled by the OPSS.” She urged ministers to act swiftly, warning: “The longer the Government delays taking action, the greater the risk that more dangerous products will reach consumers.”
The Government has published proposals requiring online marketplaces to exercise due care in preventing dangerous products from reaching consumers. The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 21 July 2025, grants ministers powers to develop secondary legislation to address modern safety issues, including enhanced accountability for online marketplaces. Which? insists that any legislation must be sufficiently robust and enforceable to prevent a repeat of the current crisis.
More than thirty children’s products have been withdrawn from British shops since January alone. Major high street retailers — including Tesco, Primark, Aldi, Marks & Spencer, Argos, Asda, Matalan, Smyths Toys and The Entertainer — have all removed contaminated items from their ranges. The recalled products span craft sand kits to stretchy rubber toys filled with the hazardous material. For example, a “Kids Create Sand Art Kit” was recalled in February this year due to potential asbestos contamination.