What Happened to The CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit?

The CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit was a short-lived children's toy that became infamous for one of the most alarming product contaminations in modern toy history. Released in 2007 as licensed, tie-in merchanidse for the "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" TV franchise, the kit let children dust and collect fingerprints.

The kit included standard forensic props: fingerprint powder, a brush for dusting, evidence collection cards, and investigation tools. Marketed to children interested in science and detective work, this educational toy capitalized on the forensic science boom.

In 2007, routine testing revealed a shocking discovery: the fingerprint powder contained up to 5% asbestos, a known carcinogen linked to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious respiratory diseases.

The presence of asbestos in this toy was particularly alarming because the fingerprint powder was designed to be poured, brushed, and blown—activities that would release asbestos fibers into the air where children could easily inhale them.

CBS Consumer Products and manufacturer Planet Toys immediately announced a recall in coordination with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The company offered full refunds and urged consumers to stop using the product immediately and return it in a sealed plastic bag to avoid further exposure.

The contamination likely resulted from the powder's manufacturing process overseas, where asbestos regulations are less stringent than in the United States. The incident highlighted ongoing concerns about toy safety and the challenges of monitoring supply chains for products manufactured internationally.

Following the recall, CBS pulled all CSI-licensed toy products and never relaunched the fingerprint kit or similar forensic toys under the CSI brand. The incident became a case study in product testing failures and the importance of materials screening, particularly for children's products.