The popular United Kingdom department store chain John Lewis made headlines this week when it issued a recall of 15 products sold at its locations during the last several years for possible asbestos contamination.
The affected products include a line of 12 novelty doorstops, many of them shaped like animals, along with three draught excluder products designed to prevent cold air from entering homes and buildings through small holes in doors and windows. These items were sold at John Lewis locations from January 31, 2021 to June 11, 2026.
According to the recall notice issued by The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the products each contained small marble chips sealed within that potentially may be contaminated by small amounts of asbestos.
What to Do if Affected by John Lewis Asbestos Recall
According to the recall notice, the OPSS advised that owners stop using the products immediately and keep out of reach of children. If the item is undamaged, place it in a heavy-duty, double-taped plastic bag and keep it in a secure location.
If the item is damaged, put on gloves and a mask, clear areas where the filling has leaked with a damp cloth, and then place in a double bag. Then, proceed to put the gloves, mask and cloths themselves into the same bag.
Full refunds are available at all John Lewis branches, even without a receipt, or contact your local authorities for advice on safe disposal if unable to reach a location.
Risk of Asbestos in Household Items
This John Lewis recall brings the total number of products recalled from UK shelves due to potential asbestos contamination this year to 166. In May, the UK shop chain Dunelm also issued a recall warning for similar doorstops and draught excluders due to asbestos fears.
Asbestos contamination is an especially dangerous issue in household items because asbestos exposure is the only known cause of the deadly cancer known as mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, and its loose fibers can very easily contaminate other minerals found nearby in the soil.
Household items sold at major distributors are routinely recalled for potential asbestos contamination. For instance, over 120,000 squeeze toys sold at Walmart locations across the United States were recalled due to contamination with fibrous tremolite asbestos just last month. These trends make keeping a vigilant watch on asbestos recalls even more important, even in a day and age where asbestos’ adverse health effects are more commonly known.
Sources & Author
- John Lewis recalls 15 products due to ‘asbestos contamination’ – full list. Metro. Retrieved from https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/09/john-lewis-recalls-15-products-due-asbestos-contamination-29095122/. Accessed on 07/10/2026.
- Home Bargains, Asda and Dunelm shoppers send urgent warnings over products. Liverpool Echo. Retrieved from https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/home-bargains-asda-dunelm-shoppers-33992439. Accessed on 07/10/2026.
