Parents have been urged to immediately stop using a popular children’s sand kit amid fears it may contain asbestos, just days after similar sets were recalled.
The 14-piece Sand Castle Building Set, sold at Kmart and Target stores and online, has been recalled after laboratory analysis detected the substance in some samples of the coloured sand.
The kit, which is available in clear, blue, green and pink containers, has been widely used for sensory play and beach activities.
‘The product is being recalled because the sand may include asbestos, which is a prohibited substance in Australia,’ a notice from Kmart said.
‘Stop using the products immediately.’
The notice emphasised that respirable asbestos fibres, the dangerous kind which can be inhaled, were not detected in any of the tested samples.
However, the risk remains if the sand is crushed or pulverised by mechanical means.
‘The release of respirable asbestos fibres is unlikely to occur in its current state,’ the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said.
The 14-piece Sand Castle Building Set (pictured), sold at Kmart and Target, has been recalled
Kmart is the latest to recall the sand kit, which was recalled earlier this week after being sold at Officeworks, Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids and Zart Art
‘However, the risk that any asbestos found could become airborne is low but not zero.’
The batches sold at Kmart included 42975724 (clear container), 42304364 (blue), 42919650 (green) and 42304371 (pink). Target sold batch 69581984.
Kmart is the latest Australian store to recall the sand kit, which was recalled earlier this week after being sold at Officeworks, Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids and Zart Art from January 1, 2020 to October 31, 2025.
The stores also recalled batches of Creatistics Coloured Sand 1 kg and Kadink Sand 1.3kg.
The notices prompted WorkSafe ACT to issue a stern warning instructing Australians not to disturb or use the sand kits.
‘Isolate the product. Carefully double wrap the sand, its container, and any related materials in 200-micron plastic bags, seal securely with tape, and clearly label the package as asbestos waste,’ they said.
Customers are urged not to dispose of the product in general waste but instead take it to an approved disposal facility.
Information on the disposal of asbestos waste, including disposal facilities in your state or territory, can be found here.
The product is one of three brands to have had their products recalled over fears they had traces of asbestos in them, a prohibited substance in Australia
The crisis also escalated further on Friday, with coloured sand products linked to the fears have been identified at more than 100 sites in South Australia.
The SA Department for Education said it is managing the removal of loose sand detected at ‘about 20 sites’ and sand in containers at a further 88 locations.
About 15 primary schools and three preschools in the ACT were also abruptly closed after traces of chrysotile asbestos were found in coloured sand used for craft and sensory play in the schools, the territory’s education department said.
‘While WorkSafe ACT has identified the risk of exposure to traces of chrysotile is low, the safety of our schools is our highest priority,’ the department said.
Testing will be carried out at affected schools during the closures.
Asbestos-contaminated mulch prompted the closure of schools, hospitals and parks in Sydney in 2024 while historic dumping and legacy contamination were blamed for traces found at parks in Melbourne’s west.
