Primark in flip-flops recall after toxic chemical level is found

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jul 18, 2017

Primark has had to recall thousands of men’s flip-flops just as the holiday season gets under way with the products containing levels of a carcinogenic chemical that exceed safety regulations.

The value fashion retail giant has not said where the shoes were made but it has suspended any outstanding orders from the factory concerned and has launched an inquiry into how the issue happened.

The company said Tuesday that it acted after it had been made aware by a third party that the footwear "does not meet the Primark usual high standards for chemical compliance,” adding in a message on its website that "we have found levels of a restricted substance in the product in excess of the 1.0 mg/kg requirement.”

It’s unclear exactly how many it has sold but the flip-flops were available from the start of the year until the beginning of last month when it withdrew them from sale.

The blue, black or khaki shoes were sold as part of its Cedar Wood State range and the company is offering a full refund with customers not needing proof of purchase to get a full refund. The chemical in question is chrysene, which is used in the formulation of dark dyes.

However, the company also said that the levels of chrysene detected means it believes “the health and safety risk to customers is minimal”.