In Britain and the EU, The Nickel Directive imposes limits on the amount of nickel that may be released from jewellery and other products intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin. However body piercings and low-quality products manufactured outside Europe continue to be a significant source of nickel sensitisation. Permitted limits, known as migration limits, are:

• 0.2 µg/cm²/week for post assemblies which are inserted into pierced ears and other pierced parts of the human body;
• 0.5 µg/cm²/week for other products intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin.

The body bar was on sale at stores in the UK between August 23 and December 8 last year.

It has the product code 2064701, which can be found on the packaging but is not on the jewellery itself. 

The set of studs was available to buy between August 30 until December 8 2020 and has the product code 4102702.

Anyone who bought the items can return them to any Primark store and get their money back.

However, because Primark shops are currently closed in the latest Covid lockdown, anyone who has bought the jewellery will have to wait until they reopen to return the affected items. As with most product recalls, you won't need a receipt to get your money back.

In a notice on its website, Primark said: "It has come to our attention that the products 'Body Bar (white)' and 'Nose Piercing 5pk (yellow)' detailed above do not meet the Primark usual high standards for safety. 

"Higher than permitted levels of Nickel have been detected in the products and this can potentially lead to an allergic skin reaction.

"With the safety of our customers at the forefront of our minds we are inviting you to return these products for a full refund."

"If you have purchased either of these products then please return these to any Primark store where you will be offered a full refund.  You will not be required to provide proof of purchase."