Sydney, Nov 13: Children’s coloured sand sold through major education and stationery retailers has been urgently recalled after some products were found to potentially contain asbestos.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a recall notice for several sand products supplied by Educational Colours and sold nationwide at Officeworks, Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids and Zart Art.
The affected products are brightly coloured play and classroom sands labelled as:
- Kadink Sand (1.3kg)
- Educational Colours – Rainbow Sand (1.3kg)
- Creatistics – Coloured Sand (1kg)
The products were available for purchase across Australia between 2020 and 2025.
Laboratory testing detected tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring form of asbestos and a prohibited substance in Australia, in some samples of the sand. As a result, the products have been recalled as a precaution.
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said Officeworks, one of the major retailers, had already taken the products off shelves.
“We have engaged with Officeworks who is a major supplier of these products and they advised that the products have been removed from sale. We expect they will take all the necessary steps to alert their customers,” Ms Lowe said.
“We continue to engage with suppliers and expect all to provide appropriate support to consumers including responding to queries, and providing advice about arranging a refund.”
Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled sands are being urged to stop using them immediately.
“We urge customers who own any of the products to stop using them immediately and place the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag and double tape it securely and keep it out of reach of children,” Lowe said.
“When doing so, in an abundance of caution, customers should take precautions such as a wearing disposable gloves and a mask.”
Customers are also being advised not to throw the sand out with normal household rubbish. The ACCC says it will continue to monitor the situation and may update the recall notice as further information becomes available.
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