HEMA recalls all play sand products due to asbestos contamination
HEMA is urging customers to return play and craft sand to the store because the products may contain asbestos. “Following further investigation, it has been determined that asbestos was found in at least one tube of products,” HEMA said on its website. The company decided to recall all its sand toy products to eliminate any risk.
The recalled HEMA products include craft bags with pink and purple sand, green and blue sand, sand shakers 6 pack, sand creation magnets, and sand creation cards.
Some of these products were still available in HEMA stores as late as Wednesday.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is investigating play sand after AD discovered that several products contained asbestos, a carcinogenic substance that could cause lung cancer with longer-term exposure. The NVWA can’t recall the products without its own investigation results. It is unclear how long that will take.
HEMA is the latest Dutch store to launch its own investigation and recall of sand toys. Stores like Action and Top1Toys have already issued recalls.
The sector organization for childcare institutions also urged daycares and after-school care organizations not to use sand toys and crafts for the time being.
