Asbestos can cause serious health problems when fibers are inhaled.
If you have recently purchased a toy from Action or Hema, it is better to check its reference without delay. Several items intended for children are currently the subject of a national recall due to a particularly worrying risk: the presence of asbestos. The alert was published on the official Rappel Conso platform and concerns products sold throughout France, in stores and online.
Asbestos is a mineral fiber currently banned in consumer products due to its carcinogenic effects. “This is a dangerous substance that can cause serious health problems when fibers are inhaled” indicates the company Hema France. When inhaled, asbestos promotes the occurrence of serious diseases affecting the lungs, sometimes several years after exposure. This is not an immediate danger comparable to acute poisoning, but a risk linked to the dispersion of invisible particles in the air. In children, vigilance is all the more important as they handle their toys intensively and can bring them to their face, mouth, etc.
Here is the list of recalled products:
Products sold at Hema
- Bag of creative pink-lila sand – Ref. 15.90.0101 – Sale from March 18, 2024 to February 11, 2026
- Bag of creative green-blue sand – Ref. 15.90.0102 – Sale from March 18, 2024 to February 11, 2026
- Set of 6 “Sandblasters” – Ref. 15.90.0035 – Sale from March 18, 2024 to February 11, 2026
- Sand creation cards – Ref. 15.92.0121 – Sale from February 6, 2023 to March 16, 2025
- Sand creation magnets – Ref. 15.92.0122 – Sale from February 6, 2023 to March 16, 2025
Products sold at Action (and other brands)
- “Stretcherz” figurines – HTI Toys brand – Multiple references – Sold at Action, B&M and Smyths Toys
- “Stretch Squad” figurines – Multiple references – Sold at Action
Depending on the brands concerned, additional analyzes revealed the presence of asbestos, either in a small tube of sand included in the creative boxes, or in the internal filling of the figurines. The risk appears especially if the toy is damaged, pierced or opened, which can release microscopic fibers. The authorities recommend immediately stopping all use of the products concerned and returning them to the point of sale in order to obtain a refund, even without proof of purchase.
For figurines sold at Action, an information number (01 55 56 41 52) is made available and reimbursement is possible until April 13, 2026. The recall concerns all lots sold. When in doubt, there is no need to worry. It is advisable to avoid any further handling and not to attempt to open or repair the toy.
