In a last-minute warning just before Christmas Day, the Government has urgently called for a product recall of an item many could be gifting as ‘stocking fillers’ this year. On December 24, Public Health England announced a recall for a piece of jewellery being sold by retail giants Sainsbury’s and Matalan.
The alert concerns potential allergic reactions to the Beeline Belly Bar due to its nickel content. According to PHE: “The product presents a serious chemical risk as elevated levels of nickel were found.”
The recalled item is described specifically: “The product is body jewellery in the form of a belly bar. The belly bar has a pendant shaped like a daisy attached to it.”
It also noted the health implications: “The product presents a chemical risk as elevated levels of nickel were found. Nickel is a skin sensitiser and can cause allergic reactions if present in articles that come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin.”
Nickel health risks:
- Toxic by inhalation, ingestion and skin contact
- Short-term inhalation causes sore throat and hoarseness
- Ingestion may lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain Skin exposure can cause irritation and allergic contact dermatitis
- Long-term inhalation may cause asthma, runny nose and inflammation of the sinuses
- Nickel carbonyl and soluble nickel salts are toxic to the unborn child
- Nickel compounds can cause cancer in humans
- Elemental nickel is a possible human carcinogen
Those affected by the product recall are advised to visit Beeline Jewellery’s website for details on refunds using this link: https://www.beeline-group.com/en.