Parents across Australia are being urged to check their toy cupboards after a popular unicorn sand kit was pulled from shelves over asbestos concerns.
Australian parents are once again on high alert after a children’s craft kit sold in Kmart and Target was urgently recalled when testing found asbestos in its coloured sand. The “Make Your Own Unicorn Sand Ornaments” set, aimed at young children and marketed as a creative holiday activity, is now at the centre of a widening product safety scare.
What has been recalled — and why
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a national product safety recall for the unicorn ornament kit, which contains loose coloured play sand and plastic unicorn-shaped baubles. Authorities say some sand samples have tested positive for asbestos, a prohibited substance in Australia that is known to cause serious long-term illness if inhaled over time.
According to the official recall notice, the affected sets were sold over an extended period in both Kmart and Target stores, as well as online. Parents are being told to immediately stop children from playing with the sand, seal the product in a bag or container, and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Regulators stress that respirable asbestos — the fine fibres most easily inhaled — has not been detected in test samples. However, any asbestos contamination in a children’s product is treated as unacceptable, particularly where the sand could be crushed, poured, or otherwise disturbed during play.
A scare that goes beyond one toy
This is not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, multiple sand-based toys and educational products have been caught up in an asbestos contamination scare, with recalls affecting schools, early learning centres and family homes in several states and territories. Some schools have temporarily closed playgrounds and sandpits while specialist cleaners remove potentially affected products and surfaces.
Workers’ safety agencies and product-safety regulators have warned that more recalls may follow as testing continues across different brands and suppliers. The unicorn kit recall is part of this broader investigation into imported coloured sands and craft materials used by children.
What parents should do now
If you have purchased a unicorn sand ornament kit from Kmart or Target in the past two years, authorities recommend assuming it is affected unless you can clearly confirm otherwise. The safest option is to:
- Remove the toy from children immediately and place it out of reach.
- Avoid tipping, crushing, or vacuuming the sand, which could create dust.
- Seal the sand and any opened packets in a sturdy plastic bag or container.
- Return the kit to Kmart or Target for a refund in line with the recall notice.
- Wash children’s hands and any surfaces where the sand was used.
Parents who are especially worried about past exposure should speak with their GP, who can provide individual medical advice and discuss whether any follow-up is needed. Health experts emphasise that the risk from brief or low-level exposure is generally low, but understand that families may feel anxious when asbestos and children are mentioned in the same sentence.
How did asbestos end up in a kids’ craft kit?
Early investigations suggest that some of the coloured sands used in recalled products may trace back to overseas quarries where asbestos occurs naturally in rock and soil. If the sand is not carefully tested and refined before export, tiny fibres can remain. Regulators are now working with importers and retailers to map supply chains and tighten testing requirements for any sand-based toys, art products and educational materials.
Consumer advocates say the incident shows how quickly a small lapse in quality control can ripple out across the country. Just weeks ago, another high-profile safety scare saw New Zealand emergency crews responding after a chemical mix-up at a childcare centre sent children to hospital — a reminder that everyday products can pose unexpected risks when safety checks fail.
In the unicorn sand case, both Kmart and Target have apologised to customers and pledged to cooperate fully with regulators. The companies say safety is their top priority and have moved to withdraw affected stock while further testing is carried out.
Know your rights if you bought the toy
Under Australian Consumer Law, shoppers are entitled to a repair, replacement or refund when a product is unsafe or fails to meet basic quality guarantees. In a recall like this, the process is simple: customers can take the kit back to their local Kmart or Target, or contact customer service for advice if the product has already been disposed of.
For the most up-to-date information, parents can check the official ACCC Product Safety recall page, which lists item numbers and photos to help identify the toy, or review broader asbestos-related alerts via workplace and safety regulators.
Product recalls rarely land so close to home as a bright unicorn craft kit on the kitchen table. For many families, this scare will spark uncomfortable questions about what else might be hiding in seemingly harmless children’s products. For now, regulators say the best protection is simple: stay informed, heed recall notices quickly, and never ignore that email or in-store poster announcing that a toy has been pulled from the shelves.
Written by Swikblog News Desk
