April 1, 2026 ADAO Letter to CPSC and EPA

Posted on May 22, 2026

ADAO Warned Federal Regulators About Similar Products on April 1, 2026

On May 21, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of more than 121,000 Orb Funkee squeeze toys after testing identified fibrous tremolite asbestos in the sand filling inside the products.

The recalled toys were manufactured in China and sold nationwide at Walmart and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet stores between February 2025 and April 2026. According to the recall notice, the toys may contain asbestos fibers in the sand, which can pose serious health risks if inhaled.

The recall follows months of growing international concern over asbestos contamination in children’s sand-filled toys, craft materials, and sensory-play products.

On April 1, 2026, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) publicly urged federal agencies to investigate children’s products containing sand or mineral fillers after widespread recalls in Australia and the United Kingdom identified asbestos contamination in similar products.

ADAO sent letters to the:

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

requesting review and testing of comparable products sold in the United States.

At the time, ADAO warned that products marketed for children’s crafts and play activities abroad, including sand art kits, decorative craft sand, and novelty toys filled with sand, had been recalled after laboratory testing identified asbestos minerals, including tremolite, actinolite, and chrysotile.

“No parent should have to wonder whether the toys their children play with contain asbestos,” said Linda Reinstein, President and CEO and Co-Founder of ADAO. “The recent CPSC recall confirms the concerns ADAO raised earlier this year after regulators in Australia and the United Kingdom identified asbestos contamination in similar products.”

Similar Sand-Based Products Remain Widely Available in the United States

ADAO’s April 1 action highlighted the widespread availability of comparable products in the United States, including:

  • colored sand art craft kits
  • decorative craft sand sold in art stores
  • sandbox play sand
  • kinetic or moldable sand products
  • sensory-play sand used in classrooms and early childhood settings
  • sand-filled novelty toys.

According to the CPSC recall notice, consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Orb Funkee toys and keep them away from children. If the toy has ruptured or leaked sand, consumers are advised to wear gloves and a mask during cleanup and carefully double-bag the materials before disposal.

ADAO’s 2026 Contaminated Play Sand Project

ADAO is continuing its 2026 Contaminated Play Sand Project and is calling for broader review and testing of sand-based consumer products using advanced analytical methods such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), which can detect microscopic asbestos fibers not visible through standard testing methods.

The recent recall underscores a broader public health concern: asbestos exposure risks can emerge in unexpected consumer products, particularly those containing natural mineral materials.

Because asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis often develop decades after exposure, prevention remains essential, especially for children.

On watch,

Linda Reinstein