Customers are urged to stop using the glasses and to visit stores for a refund
Flying Tiger Copenhagen has issued a fresh UK product recall after high levels of potentially harmful substances were found in several items. The high street store is popular across the country for selling a wide variety of items at affordable prices, often with colourful, playful designs.
In a statement on its website, Flying Tiger said six glasses are being removed from shelves as part of the product recall due to “increased levels of lead and cadmium in the print”. Shoppers are urged to stop using them and to visit their nearest store for a refund.
The store said: “Elevated levels of lead and cadmium were detected in the print on the outside of the glasses. Analysis revealed that the release of these substances exceeds the permissible EU limits for materials in contact with food and therefore further use of the product should be stopped.”
The store adds: “Flying Tiger Copenhagen continuously strives to maintain and improve the safety of our products and to ensure that our customers feel safe in purchasing our products. It is essential to us that our customers trust the quality and safety of our products. Consequently, we react as quickly as possible to announce recalls when we discover products that are not compliant with the legal regulations.”
What are the six drink glasses Flying Tiger has recalled?
- Glass Drinking 220ML With Small Red Hearts, item no. 3052986, all batches, sold since January 2024
- Glass Drinking 220ML Strawberry, item no. 3053912, all batches, sold since February 2024
- Glass Drinking 220ML Lemons Yellow, item no. 3055350, all batches, sold since May 2024
- Glass Drinking 220ML Single Flowers Mixed Colours, item no. 3060031, all batches, sold since January 2025.
- Glass Drinking 220ML Ranges, item no. 3062993, all batches, sold since May 2025
- Glass Drinking 220ML Pumpkin Print, item no. 3057450, all batches, sold since August 2024
Flying Tiger adds: “Customers should stop using this product immediately. Consumers are encouraged to return the drinking glass to their nearest Flying Tiger Copenhagen store for a full refund.
“It is essential to us that our customers trust the quality and safety of our products. Consequently, we react as quickly as possible when we discover products that are not compliant with the legal regulations.”
What is a product recall?
A product recall is when a company asks people to return, exchange, or dispose of a product because it has safety problems, contamination, or labelling errors that might put consumers at risk. These recalls are done to prevent injuries, follow safety rules, and take responsibility when products are found to be broken, incorrectly labelled, or dangerous, such as food with allergens not listed or electronics that could catch fire.
What is lead, and what is cadmium?
According to scientific reports, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are potentially harmful heavy metals. They can build up in the body over 10 to 30 years, possibly leading to serious damage to the kidneys, heart, and brain. They are often found in the environment, including in soil, air, and especially in risky foods like dark chocolate, leafy greens, and root vegetables.
On Gov.uk, the UK Health Security Agency has shared information on cadmium’s ‘health effects, incident management and toxicology’. It says: “The presence of cadmium in the environment does not always lead to exposure. In order for it to cause any adverse health effects you must come into contact with it. You may be exposed to cadmium by breathing or ingesting it. Following exposure to any chemical, the adverse health effects you may encounter depend on several factors, including the amount to which you are exposed (dose), the way you are exposed, the duration of exposure, the form of the chemical and if you were exposed to any other chemicals.
“Ingestion of cadmium can cause irritation to the digestive tract, with nausea and diarrhoea. Ingestion of large amounts may result in effects on metabolism, swelling of the face and a build-up of fluid in the lungs. Cadmium may cause irritation in contact with the skin. Exposure to cadmium for a long period of time may result in damage to the kidneys and bones and may cause cancer.”
