A popular range of children’s items sold at Officeworks has been urgently recalled amid fears they may contain asbestos.

The ACCC confirmed that Educational Colours decorative coloured sand – supplied in various colours for art and craft activities and sensory play – has been pulled from shelves after traces of asbestos, a prohibited substance in Australia, were found.

The Rainbow Sand (1.3kg), Creatistics – Coloured Sand (1kg) and Kadink – Sand (1.3kg) may pose a health risk after laboratory testing detected tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring asbestos, in some samples.

The ACCC stated that no respiratory asbestos was detected in any of the tested samples. Asbestos fibres are unlikely to be released unless the sand is crushed or ground.

While the likelihood of the asbestos becoming airborne or fine enough for inhalation is low, it may still pose a risk.

The sand, which comes in a variety of colours including pink, green, purple, red, orange and yellow, was sold nationally at Officeworks, Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids and Zart Art from January 1, 2020 to October 31, 2025.

Shoppers are warned to stop using the products immediately.

Place the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag and double tape it securely and keep it out of reach of children.

Customers are urged not to dispose of the product in general waste but to 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.

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