The government issued the shock recall on 1 April covering seven archaeology and excavation kits sold under the Smyths Toys own brand. The brightly-coloured sets — marketed at young children and designed to let them dig out dinosaur figures, gemstones and pirate treasure — contain a sand-like material which may include traces of the banned substance.
Asbestos is one of the most dangerous materials known to science. It was widely used in construction for decades before being banned, and its fibres — invisible to the naked eye — can become permanently lodged in the lungs, causing conditions including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. There is no safe level of exposure.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards, which published the recall, said the toys posed “a risk to health” and did not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. The alert was triggered by Local Authority Trading Standards.
The seven recalled products are the Dino Dig Sensory Bin, Dig In Kit GOLD, Let’s Dig Out Dinosaur Eggs (10pc), Gem Dig Kit (12 Gem Pack), Dig It Up Pirates 13 Treasure Set, Dig In Treasure Dig and Discover Play Gold Treasure Chest, and Gem Dig Kit 8 Pack.
Anyone who has bought any of the affected kits is being told to stop using them immediately and to keep them away from children. Smyths Toys is offering a full refund and customers can return the products to their nearest store — including the Swansea branch at the Enterprise Park in Llansamlet.
The situation is potentially more alarming for families where the kits have already been used, since the sand will have been disturbed. Parents in that position are being told not to sweep or brush the area, as doing so can generate dust and spread fibres further.
Instead, anyone who has used the kits should clean the area using wet cloths to suppress any dust, and must wear gloves and a mask during clean-up. The sand, cloths, gloves and mask should all be double-bagged together before disposal.
If the sand remains unopened in its original packaging, it should be placed inside a heavy-duty plastic bag, double taped and sealed, clearly labelled and stored safely away from children until it can be returned or disposed of.
Families who cannot get to a Smyths Toys store can dispose of the bagged sand in their general household waste, and contact Smyths Toys directly to arrange a refund without needing to travel.
The government’s full product recall notice — PSD case number 2603-0225 — can be found at gov.uk/guidance/product-recalls-and-alerts. Further guidance from Smyths Toys is available at smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/product-information.
Parents with concerns about potential exposure are advised to contact their GP.
