Primark has been forced to recall thousands of pairs of men’s flip-flops amid concerns that they contain dangerous levels of a cancer-causing chemical.
The chain is withdrawing the blue, black and khaki product, which remained on sale for six months, after becoming aware that it “does not meet the Primark usual high standards for chemical compliance”. Customers will be offered a full refund even if they do not have proof of purchase, the discount fashion store said, after finding “a restricted substance in the product in excess of the 1.0 mg/kg requirement”.
The footwear was sold in stores between January 4 and June 2 as part of its Cedar Wood State range. The problem was discovered after an inquiry by a third party.
The retailer confirmed that the chemical found was chrysene, which studies have suggested causes cancer, but stressed that the levels of it in the footwear would pose a minimal health and safety risk.
Primark has suspended all new orders from the factory that makes the flip-flops while the issue is investigated.
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“We take the safety of our customers, and the quality of our products very seriously,” the company said.
It is the third product recall Primark has issued in less than six months. Earlier this year the chain had to recall pairs of novelty cat leggings aimed at children amid fears that they were unsafe.
In February the clothing giant also had to pull a range of T-shirts after customers complained that they were racist. They showed a villain from the TV show The Walking Dead holding a baseball bat covered in blood and barbed wire, with the rhyme “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe”. Customers said it was well known that the rhyme often ended with the phrase “catch a n***** by his toe”.