France Halts Sales of All Sand-Based Toys After Asbestos Traces Found

Overview

• The DGCCRF asked retailers to suspend sales of every sand-based toy and urged parents to stop using them as a precaution.
• Government recall notices now cover items sold at Action, Hema and GiFi, including Stretch Squad/Stretcherz figures and sand craft kits, with some listings also naming B&M and Smyths Toys.
• ANSES, working with poison-centre toxicologists, reports no acute health risk based on available data, noting the moist sand in many toys reduces fibre dispersion.
• Officials advise sealing affected toys in their original packaging inside a closed bag, returning recalled items for refunds, and cleaning any spilled sand with a damp cloth rather than vacuuming or sweeping.
• Authorities are expanding tests and tracing supply chains, indicating the contamination may stem from naturally occurring asbestos in certain sand deposits and referencing an earlier Australian alert that prompted widespread checks.