Asbestos play sand safety assurances were based solely on supplier's own unverified assessment

Schools, retailers and government agencies in Australia and New Zealand reassured parents that asbestos-contaminated play sand posed a low health risk, relying solely on the supplier's own unverified assessment, the Guardian has revealed. Educational Colours children's sand products were pulled from shelves in November 2025 after asbestos was found in samples, triggering over 20 further recalls across different brands. Australia's ACCC has since updated some recall notices to state the products "may cause risk to health," contradicting earlier public messaging.

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