Déjà Vu, All Over Again!
The Saturday, January 24, 2026 issue of The Guardian newspaper ran a story entitled: Asbestos found in children’s play sand sold in UK, which confirmed that asbestos-contaminated colored sand had been sold in the UK by the nationwide chain Hobbycraft.1
The information contained in the article was replicated over subsequent days in national and local newspapers and portals including the Independent, the Scotsman, Birmingham Live, the Daily Record, the Sun, the Mail Online and Wales Online.
 Screenshot taken on January 26, 2026. |
In the original story, Guardian Journalist Anna Tims related how an unnamed parent, aware of the scandal regarding the import from China of asbestos-contaminated play sand to Australia and New Zealand, had purchased a craft product in the UK and had it tested for asbestos.2 The samples of the yellow, green and pink sand from the Hobbycraft Giant Box of Craft arts kit were found to contain tremolite asbestos, a known carcinogen. Although the company withdrew the product from its shelves, it did not issue a recall.
Explaining her actions, the parent said:
“The bottles of coloured sand looked extremely similar to ones I had seen on a news report of play sand recalled in Australia. I was concerned enough to buy a set at Hobbycraft and send it to an accredited lab for testing. Three of the five colours came back positive for fibrous tremolite asbestos…. I am getting increasingly upset thinking that kids are being exposed unnecessarily.” 3
Commenting on the company’s complacency, Kimberley Stubbs – whose mother June Hancock and grandmother Maie Gelder both died from the signature asbestos cancer mesothelioma – said:
“Hobbycrafts response is unacceptable. To say they have not been informed of the danger or that no reports of harm to customers have been received is both irresponsible and downright ill considered. The period between exposure and illness can – and usually does – span decades. The legacy of asbestos in the UK is well known. Over 5,000 people die in the UK each year because of exposure to asbestos.
The dangers are known, particularly for exposure in young children. A recall is the minimum required , together with serious publicity about the danger. So Hobbycraft, do the right thing, recall the product NOW, don’t hide behind excuses and Brexit. Lives are at risk here.”4
The UK Governmemt was asked about the asbestos hazard in colored sand in three questions submitted by MP Ian Lavery last month.5 The answer to each of the questions was the same:
“UK regulators are in touch with counterparts in Australia regarding reports of chemical concerns related to rainbow-coloured sand products. There is no evidence these products are available on the UK market. Our product safety regulations require businesses to only place safe consumer products on the market, including toys or products aimed at children. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), in my Department, and Local Authority Trading Standards enforce the regulations, and have powers to remove products from sale and prevent imports where unsafe items are identified.
The Government does not collect data on sales of individual products.”
Hobbycraft was phoned and sent a series of questions about its decision not to recall these patently dangerous products; they have not responded.
According to the Guardian article:
- Hobbycraft said it’s action was based on the fact that there had been no UK warning about asbestos in these products;
- A government source was critical of the company’s failure to recall the toxic products saying: “there’s no good reason why Hobbycraft shouldn’t recall this themselves, given the evidence.”
- As usual, the Department for Business and Trade washed its hands of the matter citing the country’s “robust product safety laws” and “strict criteria.”
Instead of engaging with the asbestos hazard, successive UK governments have played the blame game with endless excuses, misstatements and obfuscations. Our children, consumers, workers and citizens will be the ones to suffer the consequeneces.
January 27, 2026
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1 Tims, Anna. Asbestos found in children’s play sand sold in UK. January 24, 2026.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/24/childrens-play-sand-hobbycraft-asbestos-removed-recall
2 Kazan-Allen, L. Toxic Toys Create Global Outrage. November 21, 2025.
https://ibasecretariat.org/lka-toxic-toys-create-global-outrage.php
Kazan-Allen, L. Asbestos Complacency in Westminster. December 20, 2025.
https://ibasecretariat.org/lka-asbestos-complacency-in-westminster.php
3 Tims, Anna. Asbestos found in children’s play sand sold in UK. January 24, 2026.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/24/childrens-play-sand-hobbycraft-asbestos-removed-recall
4 Email from Kimberley Stubbs. January 26, 2026.
5 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/
