Healthcare professionals and mesothelioma advocates are sounding the alarm after more than 121,000 children’s squeeze toys were found to contain sand contaminated with tremolite asbestos. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled Orb Funkee-brand sand-filled, monkey-shaped squeeze toys that were sold at Walmart and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet stores nationwide between February 2025 and April 2026. The recall is the latest development in a global asbestos contamination crisis that has already triggered more than 39 recall notices in the United Kingdom and school closures across multiple countries.
Mesothelioma Risk Identified in Sand-Filled Monkey Toys
It has long been established that exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma and other serious illnesses, an tremolite asbestos is one of six types of the mineral that have been classified as carcinogenic to humans, with no safe level of exposure. The asbestos in the toys has been traced to crushed quartz sand sourced from China—the same source identified in the recent wave of toy recalls in the United Kingdom covering sand art kits, stretchy toys, craft boxes, and Montessori learning trays sold through major retailers including Tesco, Hobbycraft, and The Entertainer. New Zealand temporarily closed 50 schools and daycare centers for cleaning after teachers discovered affected sand in classrooms, and schools and parks were also closed for remediation across the United Kingdom.
The risk of mesothelioma from asbestos contamination in children’s products is not new—tremolite and chrysotile asbestos were found in crayons and crime-scene kits in 2015, and in makeup products marketed to young girls at Claire’s stores in 2019. The EPA’s 2024 asbestos ban covers only the chrysotile asbestos fiber type in specific industrial applications and does not address tremolite—the form found in the recalled toys. Advocates are calling on Congress to pass the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, which would establish a comprehensive federal ban on all six asbestos fiber types and close regulatory gaps that allow asbestos to reach children through toys.
To Minimize Mesothelioma Risk, Asbestos-containing Toys Should be Returned Immediately
The risk of mesothelioma from the asbestos-contaminated toys is real: the toys in the U.S. recall had already been recalled in the United Kingdom, suggesting that the products had been on the market in multiple countries before regulators acted. Parents who purchased the toys should immediately remove them from children’s reach and place them in heavy-duty sealed plastic bags, using damp cloths to clean up any leaked sand, as vacuuming can push asbestos fibers into the air throughout the home. Further recall and refund information can be found at https://orbtoys.com/recall-information.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization warned federal regulators about the mesothelioma risk from asbestos-contaminated children’s products months ago, sending a formal letter to CPSC Chair Peter Feldman and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin warning about the potential public health risk and calling for targeted testing, but the CPSC took no public action at that time.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
