Major retail chains Aldi, Action, Hema, and Woolworth are withdrawing series of children's toys from circulation. The reason is suspicion that their filling may contain dangerous asbestos fibers. This concerns flexible figures from the "Stretch Squad" and "Stretcherz Slammerz" series, sold since April 2024. The risk arises when the toy is damaged and its interior is released. This action is a continuation of similar warnings from recent days.
More Toy Recalls
Within a few days, as many as four retail chains announced the recall of batches of children's toys due to the risk of asbestos contamination. Aldi, Action, Hema, and Woolworth are urging consumers to immediately stop using them.
Concerns Stretchable Figures
The recalled products are mainly stretchable figures from the "Stretch Squad" series (Action, Aldi) and "Stretcherz Slammerz" series (Woolworth). They were sold in single packages and sets since April 22, 2024.
Mechanism of Danger
The danger is posed by the filling of the figures, which, if damaged, can release fine asbestos fibers. Inhaling them is particularly dangerous for children and is associated with long-term risk of serious lung diseases.
Actions for Consumers
Retail chains recommend immediately ceasing use of the toys and returning them to the store to obtain a full refund. Information is published on official portals such as "Lebensmittelwarnung.de".
Recent days have brought reports of children's toys being withdrawn from circulation due to suspected contamination with asbestos. This time, it concerns products sold by chains Aldi (including Aldi Süd), Action, Hema, and Woolworth. Figures from the "Stretch Squad" series (single and in sets of 4) and "Stretcherz Slammerz" are being recalled. These toys have been available for sale since April 2024, and their distribution was only halted last week. The issue concerns the filling, which – according to warnings issued by retailers – may contain trace amounts of asbestos. Asbestos, due to its insulating and fire-resistant properties, was widely used in construction and industry for most of the 20th century. Its carcinogenic effects were fully documented in the 1970s, leading to gradual bans. In Poland, a complete ban on the trade and use of asbestos-containing products was introduced in 1997. The mechanism of danger is simple: if a flexible figure is torn or otherwise damaged, its granular or powdery filling can escape into the environment. Inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers is extremely hazardous to health, and the risk is particularly high for young children, who often put toys in their mouths. Retail chains, acting through official channels such as the Lebensmittelwarnung.de portal, where Woolworth published its warning, are urging consumers to immediately stop using the indicated products. They recommend returning them to the point of sale to receive a full refund of the amount paid. Although Woolworth did not specify the nature of the contamination in its statement, the use of the word "contaminated" in the context of parallel asbestos alerts suggests a similar source of the problem. This series of recalls is part of a broader wave of inspections and preventive actions sweeping through the European toy market in recent weeks.