MORE than 120,000 items of clothing and bedding have been recalled from major Australian retailers, after they were found to be tainted with a carcinogen.

Target, Myer and Just Jeans are just some of the shops that have recalled clothing and bedding containing the hazardous azo dye.

The dye contains carcinogenic chemicals, which can break down to form substances known as “aromatic amines”, according to the ACCC.

This can then transfer to the skin and be hazardous to human health and “the associated cancer risks give cause for concern”, the ACCC said.

media_camera Department store Myer is among those to have recalled two brands of children’s jeans.

Items recalled so far include:

• Rivers Australia — Doghouse style children’s dark-denim jeans & Doghouse style children’s black jeans.

• Just Jeans Pty Ltd — Just Jeans junior girls size 8 to 16 super skinny jeans and ankle skinny Jeans. It also includes junior boys size 8 to 16 skinny cargo pants, cargo shorts and chino pants.

• Pillow Talk Pty Ltd — Pillow Talk 50/50 Poly/Cotton 225 thread count plain dye range — red only

• Trade Secret - Firetrap Blackseal super skinny girls jeans sold between 16 February and 15 April 2014.

• Myer Pty Ltd — Milkshake jeans in sizes 3-8 on sale from July 2013 and Wayne Junior jeans in sizes 3-8 & 9-16 sold from February 2013.

• Target Australia Pty Ltd — Kid’s and ladies jeans are under recall including boys denim wrinkle pant size 1 to 7 sold February 2013 to April 2014. It also includes boys walk short size 7 to 16 sold between December 2013 to April 2014 and babywear relaxed denim jean sizes 3-6 months to 18-24 months sold between February and March 2014.

It also includes ladies Moda dark wash basic straight jean size 16-26 sold between Jan 2014 – May 2014 and Dark indigo bootleg jean size 6-18 sold Jan 2014 – May 2014.

For a full list of the items recalled click here

media_camera This brand of sheets has also been recalled.

Azo dyes are a class of synthetic dyes that cover more than half of commercial dyes.

They are used in a wide variety of consumer goods like food, cosmetics, carpets, clothes, leather and textiles.

They are currently banned in Europe and under restricted use in the US. They are legal in Australia although from June 1 they will be classified as a dangerous poison in the same category as cyanide, strychnine and arsenic.

The ACCC said while consumer exposure is likely to be low, the cancer risks are concerning.

“As a result, exposure to certain azo dyes, including benzidine-based dyes, should be minimised or eliminated.”

media_camera Some Target jeans have been recalled.

So far eight recalls covering 28 product lines have been negotiated, with more expected.

Shopper Stefanie Taing said “it’s not great to hear that the clothes we are wearing contain carcinogenic material”, adding that she will be returning the clothes as soon as possible.

Myer has called on the government to clarify the position regarding the dye.

A spokeswoman for Target said since the ACCC first raised the issue in February they’ve been testing their range for use of the chemical.

“We’ve adopted European standards surrounding azo dyes voluntarily and instructed our suppliers not to use them. We have several different measures in place to ensure that occurs.”

Minister for small business Bruce Billson has asked the ACCC to investigate whether further regulation is required and advised consumers to contact stores for a refund.

“The ACCC has an active recall program underway and continues to monitor the market to ensure consumers are not exposed to products that contain Azo dyes above the acceptable limit.”

“Consumers that have purchased any recalled product should stop using them, contact the retail outlet the product was bought from, and advise them that they have purchased a recalled product,” he said.

A spokesman for Pillow Talk said the affected product was recalled and taken off the shelves in February.

Just Jeans has also been contacted for comment.

See the full release on the ACCC website or for individual recall notices click here

Do you own these products? Continue the conversation on Twitter @NewscomauHQ.

Originally published as National recall on cancer-linked jeans