{"id":108572,"date":"2026-01-12T08:31:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T21:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/?p=108572"},"modified":"2026-01-11T22:00:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T11:00:39","slug":"kmart-issues-urgent-recall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/kmart-issues-urgent-recall\/","title":{"rendered":"Kmart Issues Urgent Recall for Gel Packs After Hazardous Substance Discovered"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you\u2019ve got a gel pack from Kmart sitting around, you might want to double-check. The retailer is recalling their popular Anko Small and Large Gel Paks after a &#8220;highly toxic&#8221; substance was found inside them. It\u2019s a reminder that even everyday products can carry hidden risks. Here\u2019s what you need to know before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Going on with the Kmart Gel Packs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kmart\u2019s gel packs have been a summer staple for many households over the years, helping people stay cool during Australia\u2019s scorching heat. But recently, tests discovered the presence of ethylene glycol in these packs\u2014a substance that\u2019s usually found in airplane de-icers. While you might think it\u2019s just a small amount of gel, the implications are serious. This toxic chemical can cause severe health problems if ingested, even in tiny quantities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if the gel pack\u2019s packaging is damaged, there\u2019s a risk that this dangerous substance could leak out, making it even more concerning.&nbsp;The recall applies to both the Anko Small Gel Pak and the Anko Large Gel Pak, which have been sold both in stores and online across the country since March 2014. The packs have been used by thousands of Australians during hot summer days, but now, there\u2019s an urgent warning to stop using them immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kmart has issued an urgent recall on a commonly used household item sold in-store and online.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MiK9oxuzbD\">https:\/\/t.co\/MiK9oxuzbD<\/a><\/p>&mdash; PerthNow (@perthnow) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/perthnow\/status\/2009807421619761291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">January 10, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Is This Such a Big Deal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy to overlook the potential dangers of products we use daily, especially when they\u2019ve been on the market for so long. These gel packs were marketed as a simple, harmless way to stay cool\u2014until it was discovered that the substance inside is anything but harmless. Ethylene glycol is extremely toxic, and if swallowed, it can lead to irreversible damage or even death, explains <a href=\"https:\/\/au.lifestyle.yahoo.com\/product-recall-on-kmarts-gel-packs-after-highly-toxic-substance-discovered-030431322.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yahoo Life<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kmart is understandably concerned, and so are public health officials. The product\u2019s design means that if the packaging is broken or punctured, the toxic substance could leak out. With children or pets potentially in close proximity to these packs, the danger escalates. It\u2019s not just about an inconvenience; it\u2019s about health and safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Should You Do If You Have One of These Gel Packs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have the Anko Small Gel Pak or Anko Large Gel Pak sitting in your house, it\u2019s time to take action. Kmart is advising customers to stop using the product immediately and keep it out of reach of children or pets. If the packaging is damaged or the contents have been exposed, the risks are even greater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kmart is offering full refunds for affected products, whether or not you have a receipt. Customers are encouraged to reach out to Kmart through their customer service line at 1800 124 125 or visit their website to process the return. In case anyone has ingested the contents, it\u2019s critical to contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for immediate guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Next for the Affected Customers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While this recall might seem like a small issue compared to other more high-profile recalls, it\u2019s a good reminder to check the products we\u2019re using. Over the years, the Anko Gel Paks were sold in millions of households, making the risks even more concerning. But the silver lining here is that Kmart is taking the situation seriously and offering full refunds to customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also important to remember that not all recalls are caused by large-scale production errors or intentional negligence\u2014sometimes, it\u2019s an unintended oversight that can cause bigger issues down the line. Kmart has been transparent and responsive, and the company is doing what it can to keep its <a href=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/is-your-ford-at-risk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">customers safe.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kmart has recalled gel packs after a toxic substance was discovered inside. Find out what you need to do if you have one of these products at home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":108573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108572"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108572\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108574,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108572\/revisions\/108574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}