Kmart has sold 67,000 units of potentially asbestos-laced children's play sand since 2015. Photo / Getty Images
It’s been revealed Kmart NZ has sold tens of thousands of pots of potentially asbestos-laced children’s play sand.
The retail giant has sold 67,000 units of coloured children’s sand across the four products. That number doesn’t include suspect products sold through different retailers.
The sand has been sold at Kmart for several years, with the pink magic sand sales dating back to 2015, according to the Product Safety website.
In a statement, Kmart apologised for the inconvenience caused by the recalled products. It said whenever there is any potential risk associated with a product, they act “swiftly and proactively”.
Kmart has withdrawn all sand-based toys from sale as a precaution.
It said the risk that any asbestos found is likely to be airborne or fine enough for inhalation is low.
The sand is part of a massive recall that’s expanded even further on Thursday.
The latest contaminated item added to the list is 380g pots of craft sand in 15 different colours.
Samples of the product, which are sold in dozens of cut-price retailers and dollar stores, have tested positive for asbestos.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and other agencies are also testing samples from other similar products that are available in New Zealand.
Testing of other play sands in New Zealand is ongoing, MBIE said.
“MBIE and other agencies are proactively testing samples from other similar products identified available in the New Zealand market. We are expecting to receive the first further results later this week and will update our partners and New Zealanders as they are received,” an MBIE spokesperson said.
Some councils have set up drop-off sites for the recalled products.
– RNZ