Kmart Australia has issued a voluntary recall of its ANKO 75 Piece Wobbly Blocks set after the retailer determined the popular children's toy may pose a serious choking hazard to young children. The recall, confirmed this week, covers units sold in Kmart stores and through its online shop between 14 January and 13 February 2026.
The concern centres on the plastic tub in which the blocks are packaged. Small loose fragments, described as offcuts from the manufacturing process, may be present inside the container. If a child ingests one of these fragments, the risk of serious injury or death from choking is considered significant enough to trigger a formal recall under Australian consumer product safety obligations.
Kmart told 9News the product may not comply with the mandatory Australian standard for toys intended for children up to and including 36 months of age. That standard sets strict limits on small parts and fragment risks precisely because children in this age group routinely place objects in their mouths.
In a statement, a Kmart spokesperson said: "We take the quality and safety of all our products very seriously." The company has offered consumers two options. Customers can open the tub, inspect the interior and any surrounding play area for loose plastic offcuts, and dispose of them safely. Alternatively, they can return the product to the store of purchase for a full refund, no questions asked.
Kmart has also asked anyone who has gifted or on-sold the toy to another person to contact the place of purchase. Given the blocks were a retail item available across the country during a period that spans the summer school holidays, it is possible a number of units changed hands as gifts. The company's full list of current product recalls is available on its website.
Australia's product safety framework, administered through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, requires suppliers to notify the regulator when they become aware of a product that does not comply with a mandatory standard or may cause injury. Voluntary recalls of this kind, while initiated by the retailer rather than compelled by a regulator, are encouraged as part of responsible corporate practice. Critics of the current framework have argued that the voluntary nature of many recalls can delay consumer notification, particularly when the financial cost of a recall is high. The ACCC publishes all recall notices on the Product Safety Australia website, which consumers can search by product type or company name.
For parents and carers, the practical steps are clear. If you purchased the ANKO 75 Piece Wobbly Blocks set during the relevant sales window, check the tub thoroughly for any small plastic fragments before allowing a child to play with it. If you have any doubt about its safety, return it to Kmart for a full refund. The toy should be kept out of reach of children until one of those two steps has been completed.