Five toys on sale in Britain found to contain asbestos in tests for Guardian

Key Takeaways

• Five children’s toys on sale in Britain analysed in a Guardian investigation have been found to contain asbestos.
• It is illegal to sell products containing any quantity of asbestos fibres in the UK because of the long-term risk of cancer and respiratory problems if they are inhaled.
• More than 30 toys have been withdrawn from sale by retailers since the Guardian first reported on asbestos being found in toy sand in January, prompting a wave of testing and recalls.
• However, tests commissioned for the investigation suggest there are still products on offer that pose a potential risk to health.
• The discovery raises fresh doubts about the UK safety regime’s reliance on self-reporting, and exposes regulatory gaps between different European countries, as similar items had already been recalled in the Netherlands.