Colourful children’s sand sold by Officeworks recalled amid asbestos fears

A range of colourful children’s sand products imported from China and sold at leading Australian retailers have been recalled due to concerns they may contain asbestos. The Australian Consumer Competition Commission (ACCC) said the sand, which is brightly coloured and designed for children to play with, was recalled because the products may contain tremolite asbestos. The ACCC on Wednesday announced the recall for 1.3kg versions of Kadink Sand (1.3kg) and Educational Colours – Rainbow Sand, as well as the 1kg packages of Creatistics – Coloured Sand products. Additionally, Officeworks has recalled KD Plain Sand (1.3kg), KD Magic Sand (2kg) in natural and purple, and Kadink six-piece decorative sand. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Officeworks said the products were made in China and nearly all of them were supplied by the art supplies company Educational Colours, apart from Kadink decorative sand, which was supplied by local wholesaler Shamrock Australia. The products were recalled after Officeworks commissioned an accredited laboratory to test “various” Kadink sand products supplied by Educational Colours, which identified the presence of “microscopic” asbestos fibres, the retailer said. Asbestos, a hazardous material that can cause terminal diseases and has been banned in Australia since 2003, is not allowed to be imported except in very limited circumstances. In response to the results, Officeworks said it organised an independent risk assessment that found there was “no identifiable safety hazard” relating to the products. Nevertheless, Officeworks said Educational Colours had voluntarily recalled the products “purely as a precautionary measure” and it had commenced its own recall of the sand product supplied Shamrock Australia. The ACCC said the products were sold throughout Australia between 2020 and 2025 including by other retailers Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids and Zart Art. The regulator and Officeworks both declined to comment on when the products were tested and whether this had been done because a parent had raised the alarm. The ACCC’s deputy chair, Catriona Lowe, said customers with any of the products should stop using them immediately. Sand should be placed in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double tape it securely and keep it away from children. “When doing so, in an abundance of caution, customers should take precautions such as a wearing disposable gloves and a mask,” 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.” Associate professor Anthony Linton, from the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute, said parents whose children had come into contact with the recalled products should know they were not likely to be harmed. “We can offer the reassurance that the risk is likely to be low, but it reinforces the danger and why these things should be tested,” he said. “It’s very challenging because there’s not a test you can do for future asbestos-related diseases, but they can also seek advice from their local doctor.” He said about 4,500 Australians died each year due to asbestos related diseases and there was no safe exposure level for anyone. The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency declined to comment on details of the current testing regime. Barry Robson, the president of the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia, said it was concerning – but not surprising that these products – had “slipped through the cracks”. “All imports should tested if they could in any way contain asbestos,” he said. Guardian Australia has contacted Australian Border Force for comment.