OVER 160 PRODUCTS have been recalled from shop shelves this year over fears they contain asbestos.

Owners of any affected items have been urged to stop using them immediately, and keep them out the reach of children.

Asbestos has been found in 167 childrens products and homeware items since January Credit: Getty

Earlier this week, 12 novelty doorstops from John Lewis were pulled from shelves

Since the end of January, 167 children’s toys, arts and crafts sets, and novelty doorstops have been recalled for asbestos contamination.

Sand inside the products was found to contain trace quantities of the banned substance, with the majority of affected items manufactured in China.

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A host of retailers have been hit by the recalls, from homeware brand Dunelm, to discount store B&M Bargains.

Earlier this week, the department store John Lewis pulled over a dozen of its doorstops and draft excluders for this reason, after they had been sold in-stores for over five years.

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Numerous stretchy toys, meant to be pulled and squeezed by children, have also been recalled from stores repeatedly throughout this period.

Many craft kits, containing tubes and sachets of coloured, decorative sand have also been part of multiple product recalls.

It has been illegal to import, export, sell, or use any forms of asbestos in the UK since 1999 due to well-known evidence that the substance is harmful, even in small quantities.

All forms of asbestos fibres are hazardous to humans, and can induce cancers and other lung-related illnesses following repeated inhalation exposure.

For any product that contains asbestos, the owners should stop using them immediately.

When the product has not been damaged, it must be placed in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double taped, labelled, and stored in a secure location out of the reach of children.

If it is damaged, or the filling inside is accessible, the sand must be cleaned using wet cloths, wearing gloves and a mask – then, the cleaning equipment must be bagged securely in the same way.

Children should be kept away from the affected areas until they are completely clean.

Many retailers offer customers a full refund when they return the contaminated product to its nearest store.

If unable to return the product, it is recommended to contact the local authority to get information on how to dispose of the items safely.

Full list of products recalled in UK over asbestos fears

Addo Play Limited

Out to Impress Creative Candles Kit, item code: 318-19180-B
Out To Impress Sand Art Creations, product number: 318-19149-B
Paw Patrol Bumper Craft Collection, item code: 320-14145-N
Paw Patrol Sand Art Pictures Kit, item code: 320-14142-N

Colour Day

Sand Art Activity Kit sold via eBay and Amazon, PSD number: 2602-0208

Colour Forge

Colour Forge Basing Sand (2 Colours – Moss Green and Atlantiko Blue), Hobbycraft product code: 6873931000

Commotion Ltd.

Tickit Sensory Blocks, batch code: 20034

Crayola

Hunter Price’s Crayola-Branded Discovery Craft Box, product code: 5061047355015
Hunter Price’s Crayola-Branded Touchy Feely Craft Box, product code: 5061047350522

Dunelm

Dunelm Novelty Doorstops (full list of 35 doorstops recalled in May 2026 here)
Checkerboard Doorstop, product code: 30961034
Herringbone Doorstop, product code: 30960889
Huxley the Hedgehog Doorstop, product code: 30971884
Pumpkin Doorstop, product code: 30968790
Rowan the Robin Doorstop, product code: 30971912

Forever Shiny Limited – Sand-Filled Weirdo Toys

Dog, item number: F-SDWDOG-1P
Frog, item number: F-SDWFROG-1P
Gorilla, item number: F-SDWGORIL-1P
Green Head Fish, item number: F-SDWGRFISH-1P
Mule, item number: F-SDWMULE-1P
Pig, item number: F-SDWPIG-1P
Pineapple Duck, item number: F-SDWPDUCK-1P
Poopman, item number: F-SDWPOOP-1P
Rabbit, item number: F-SDWRABB-1P

Galt

Nature Craft Kit, barcode: 5011979623997
Sand Stickers Craft Kit, barcode: 5011979623812

Habico Ltd

350g Jars of Coloured Sand (Regular Purple, Regular Brown, Pastel Yellow, Fluorescent Green, Fluorescent Orange, Fluorescent Blue (Dark), Regular Black, Pastel Light Pink, Regular Dark Green, Fluorescent Pink), PSD case number: 2606-0268

HGL

Stretchy Sand Monster Truck/Car Toys, barcode: 5021813218894
Stretchy Sand Pig Toy, barcode: 5021813217954

Hobbycraft

Hobbycraft Easter Bumper Craft Kit, product code: 6835991000
Hobbycraft Giant Box of Craft, product numbers: 6686021000, 6505261000, 6099201000, 6597221000 and 6606171000
Hobbycraft Sand and Pom Pom Art Kit, product code: 6669851000

Home Bargains

Craft Time Sand Art Bracelets sold by Home Bargains, product code: 47805
Stretchy Gorilla Toys sold by Home Bargains, product code: 10891865 (small), 1087783 (XL)

HTI Toys

Full list of affected Stretcherz Toys in Annex A here (39 products in total)
HTI Toys Fun Sand Art Bottle Kit, barcode: 5050837373315

Hunter Price

Squishy Pugs, product code: 22782ENT
Squishy Sausage Dogs, product code: 22776

John Lewis & Partners

Draught Excluder Grey, product code: 57090506
Draught Excluder Navy, product code: 57090502
Draught Excluder Stripe, product code: 57090509
Duck Doorstop, product code: 57090429
Elephant Doorstop, product code: 57090428
Felt Doorstop, product code: 57090420
Frog Doorstop, product code: 57090427
Fusion Doorstop, product code: 57090426
Gingerbread Doorstop, product code: 57090424
Grey Stripe Doorstop, product code: 57090423
Llama Doorstop, product code: 57090421
Patterned Navy Doorstop, product code: 57090409
Pig Doorstop, product code: 57090421
Sausage Dog Doorstop, product code: 57090420
Snowman Doorstop, product code: 57090425

Kids Create

Sand Art Kit, barcode: 5012128618222

KTL (formerly Kandy Toys)

2.2kg Squishy Hot Colour Gorilla Toy, barcode: 5063389048716
2pc Balloon Dog Toy, barcode: 5063389102319
3Pcs Test Tube Science Kit, barcode: 5033849986032
6″ Stretchy Monster 6 Assorted Stretchy Toys, barcode: 5033849995485
Decorative Glass Bottle of Sand, barcode: 5063389109462
Glitter and Glow Magical Sand Art Kit, barcode: 5033849865252
Kreative Kids! Jumbo Craft Box, barcode: 5033849045425
Sensory Science Kit, barcode: 5033849928803
Squeezy Splatter Pig, barcode: 5063389048747
Squishy Stretchy Capybara, barcode: 5063389048907
Stretchy Dog Toys, barcode: 5033849929411
Stretchy Poop Toy, barcode: 5033849027407

My Living

My Living World Worm Kit, product number: LW102C

ORB

ORB Funkee Sand Toys, full list in Annex A here (13 products in total)

Scrunchems

Scrunchems Stretchies Sleepy Dino Toy, barcode: 5038728153109

Smyths Toys

Dig In Kit GOLD, item code: 231105
Dig In Treasure Dig and Discover Play Gold Treasure Chest, item code: 242645
Dig It Up Pirates 13 Treasure Set, item code: 223521
Dino Dig Sensory Bin, item code: 248772
Gem Dig Kit (12 Gem Pack), item code: 187539
Gem Dig Kit 8 Pack, item code: 187538
Let’s Dig Out Dinosaur Eggs (10pc), item code: 166403

Texet

Texet Bright Start Coloured Crafting Sand Pack of 20, barcode: 5060955510875
Texet Bright Start Fluorescent Coloured Craft Sand Pack of 6, barcode: 5060955510899

The Original Factory Shop Novelty Doorstops

Dog (Brown), article code: 10552082
Dog (Grey), article code: 10522327
Elephant, article code: 10502202
Highland Cow, barcode: 5057722706128

WOODEN QIYI

Sand Activity Toy sold via AliBaba, Model: 1005008843242014-12000046913158791