Sainsbury’s and Matalan have urgently recalled the Beeline Belly Bar, a popular Christmas present, due to a ‘serious chemical risk’. The flower-themed body jewellery, which is a popular stocking filler, has been found to contain an ‘elevated value’ of nickel, a metal that can cause allergic reactions.
![[Beeline Belly Bar]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234210188-8a13.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Both retailers issued warnings saying that the high nickel content could be dangerous when the jewellery is used in a piercing. The Office for Product Safety and Standards highlighted the potential for allergic reactions following ‘prolonged contact’ with the product.
In a statement, they warned: ‘The product presents a chemical risk as elevated levels of nickel were found.’. They further explained that nickel is a known ‘skin sensitiser’ and can cause allergic reactions if it comes into direct and prolonged contact with the skin.
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a statement, warning that exposure to elevated levels of nickel can lead to contact dermatitis and advised that any contact with materials that may cause this condition should be ‘ceased immediately’.
The organisation issued a stark warning: ‘Skin exposure to nickel or its compounds can lead to skin irritation and allergic contact dermatitis (an immunological reaction leading to skin sensitisation expressed as reddening/rash on the skin). ‘Nickel contact dermatitis was often seen in individuals who wore nickel containing jewellery in the past, but stringent controls are now in place to ensure that this is no longer a significant route of exposure.’.
