Two Australian women were reportedly hospitalised after being exposed to Kmart’s Christmas-themed quilts, prompting the retailer to announce a recall in New Zealand as well, The New Zealand Herald reported. The affected products include the Anko Mr & Mrs Claus Reversible Queen Size Bed Quilt Cover Set and the Christmas Elf Reversible Single Bed Quilt Cover Set. The recall follows reports of health issues linked to the quilts, with two customers suffering serious reactions after using them.
A Kmart spokesperson confirmed to the Herald that the public recall would also extend to New Zealand in the coming days. In the meantime, customers who have purchased the quilts can return them in-store for a full refund, even if they have not experienced any health issues.
“We take the quality of all our products seriously and are committed to addressing customer product satisfaction issues. Regardless of whether they have experienced any issue, customers who have purchased the Mr & Mrs Claus Reversible Queen Size Bed Quilt Cover Set and Christmas Elf Reversible Single Bed Quilt Cover Set may return the product to store for a refund,” the spokesperson said.
The company has urged any customers with concerns to reach out to Kmart Customer Service at 0800 945 995. The spokesperson noted that while a formal public recall will be issued soon, no incidents had been reported in New Zealand as of now.
The recall notice had not been published on Product Safety New Zealand’s website, a division of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, at the time of publication. However, when the Herald searched for the Mr & Mrs Claus Reversible Queen Size Bed Quilt Cover Set online, the top result was a link to the product page on Kmart NZ’s website, which now returned a message stating, “Sorry, the page you’re looking for can’t be found.” No results appeared for the Christmas Elf Reversible Single Bed Quilt Cover Set on Kmart NZ’s site, only on the Australian version.
In New Zealand, members of the Facebook group Kmart Mums NZ have been sharing their experiences, with some reporting a strong chemical smell and others noting adverse health effects. One user said, “After washing mine [it] made the smell 100 times worse,” while another commented, “My one did not smell of gas but my boy got [a] massive rash as soon as I put this on.”
Another group member said she experienced “chest pain and a tingly arm” that led to an emergency department visit. “I washed my one like five times and used a whole bottle of fabric softener then hung it on the line … could explain why I haven’t been feeling well and why I ended up in ED with chest pain and tingly arm,” she added.
Brisbane resident Eden, speaking to A Current Affair, recounted how her Kmart quilt set emitted a strong diesel-like smell when opened. “My house was stinking of chemicals,” she said. “After I had that small inhalation, I ended up in hospital, not really able to breathe.” Eden’s X-ray showed inflammation in her heart and lungs.
Holly, another affected customer, shared her ordeal, stating she called an ambulance after being exposed to the bedding. “I had a sudden sharp pain in my shoulder and it came at the same time as a pain in my jaw,” she said. Holly spent the night in hospital and claimed her washing machine was damaged due to the chemicals. “No one would expect that you would go to Kmart for a doona [duvet] and then get so sick from it,” she added.