Asbestos Complacency in Westminster
My octogenarian father used to have a collection of baseball hats with catchy slogans. His favorite one said: Don’t Ask, Don’t Know. It seems this sentiment is widely shared by the mandarins in Westminster who replied on December 17, 2025 to a series of questions posed by MP Ian Lavery about the sale of asbestos-contaminated toys with the phrase: “There is no evidence these products are available on the UK market.”1
The government’s reply does not go nearly far enough in addressing a problem which has tortured government agencies, school authorities and parents in Australia and New Zealand for more than a month.
The proof is there if anyone bothered to look. Our online research identified at least two of the products recalled in Australia over asbestos fears which had been listed on Amazon UK: Educational Colours Rainbow Sand and Galt Sand Stickers.2
 Screenshot showing Educational Colours Rainbow Sand listed for sale on Amazon UK. |
 Pictures of Educational Colours Rainbow Sand on official Australian website after it was recalled due to asbestos contamination.3 |
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The image above – viewed on December 18, 2025 on the website of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission – is of a product recalled because it “may cause a risk to health as chrysotile asbestos has been detected in some samples after laboratory testing.”4
 Screenshot taken on Amazon UK on December 18, 2025. |
The fact that the toxic products identified above which were listed on Amazon UK are “currently unavailable” is some consolation but questions remain such as:
- how long, in what quantities and to whom were these products sold by Amazon UK?
- where else were these products sold?
- are these products still available from retail shops and other online outlets in the UK?
I think most parents and grandparents would be concerned that presents under their family’s Christmas tree might contain a toxic substance that could cause disease and/or cancer in years to come. Shouldn’t someone, somewhere be sounding the alarm?
December 20, 2025
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1 Kazan-Allen, L. Toxic Toys Create Global Outrage. November 21, 2025.
https://ibasecretariat.org/lka-toxic-toys-create-global-outrage.php
Parliamentary Question and Answer. Toys and Games: Sales 97782. December 17, 2025.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-12-08/97782/
Parliamentary Question and Answer. Toys and Games: Sales 97783. December 17, 2025.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-12-08/97783/
Parliamentary Question and Answer. Toys and Games: Sales 97784. December 17, 2025.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-12-08/97784/
2 Amazon UK. Educational Colours Rainbow Sand 1.3 Kg, Red. Accessed November 20 [but page unavailable by November 21] 2025.https://www.amazon.com/Educational-Colours-Rainbow-Sand-1-3/dp/B095CDZSBV
Amazon UK. Galt Sand Stickers. Listed as “currently unavailable” on Amazon December 18, 2025.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Galt-Stickers-Makes-Craft-Years/dp/B0C37M9V76
3 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Educational Colours Rainbow products were recalled on November 12, 2025 because: “The products may cause a risk to health as tremolite and chrysotile asbestos have been detected in some samples after laboratory testing.”
https://www.productsafety.gov.au/search-consumer-product-recalls/educational-colours-rainbow-sand-13kg-creatistics-coloured-sand-1kg-kadink-coloured-decorative-sand-13kg-and-kadink-cotton-sensory-sand-700g
4 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Galt - Mini Makes - Sand Stickers. December 12, 2025.
https://www.productsafety.gov.au/search-consumer-product-recalls/galt-mini-makes-sand-stickers
