UMVA has learned that hazardous sand art kits contaminated with asbestos have resurfaced on major online marketplaces, endangering children across the country.
Since November, the Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued roughly 40 recall notices for sand products tainted with the carcinogenic mineral, including the popular Kids Create Sand Art Kits.
Among the most urgent recalls was a set sold at a leading supermarket, which the regulator flagged in March but that lingered on TikTok Shop and Amazon Marketplace until May.
Information obtained by UMVA shows the recall notice was later amended to cover both platforms, yet the products remained available long enough to reach unsuspecting families.
All forms of asbestos are classified as cancer‑causing, and even minimal exposure to tremolite fibers can trigger severe lung disease when inhaled.
Consumer advocates have condemned the situation, calling it outrageous that online sellers would permit items that may expose children to such a deadly toxin.
One spokesperson emphasized that every delay by authorities heightens the risk of dangerous goods slipping through the cracks and reaching shoppers.
In response, a major e‑commerce giant announced an immediate sweep of the category, removing the tainted listings and launching a deeper investigation.
Another leading platform confirmed the offending items had already been taken down from its shop.
The supermarket chain that originally stocked the kits launched a full recall as soon as the contamination was confirmed, urging customers to stop use and return the products for a complete refund.
These swift actions aim to halt the spread of asbestos‑laden sand and protect vulnerable consumers from a hidden, life‑threatening hazard.
