CPSC Warns About Magnetic Toy Set Injury Risks Associated With 3 Products That Violate Federal Safety Standards

Manufacturers of the shaping balls, stones and chess pieces have refused to issue magnetic toy recalls to remove their dangerous products from the market.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued three separate warnings for magnetic toy sets that violate federal safety standards, warning that they may pose a serious injury risk if the parts are accidentally swallowed and attract to each other through intestinal walls.

The warnings were issued last week, after the agency after discovering that all three products pose an ingestion hazard, and fail to comply with requirements designed to reduce the risk of severe and life-threatening injuries that have been linked to swallowing small, higher-powered magnetic pieces.

Concerns about health risks posed by magnet toys emerged in 2012, after reports surfaced involving devastating injuries experienced by children and teens, who accidentally ingested rare earth magnets, after placing them in their during play or while mimicing mouth or tongue piercings.

When more than one of the powerful magnets are ingested, they can attract to each other across intestinal tissue, resulting in blockages, obstructions and the need for emergency surgery. In some cases, the magnets have caused fatal injuries.

Despite steps taken by the agency to require warnings about the risk, the CPSC estimates that hospital emergency departments treated an average of 2,400 magnet ingestion cases each year from 2017 to 2021.

One of the CPSC warnings was against the use of  magnetic ball sets sold by Dongguan Qihangren Trade. This set of silver magnetic balls were sold in a cube shape and were wrapped in a clear plastic case, along with a portable tin storage box. The CPSC issued a notice of violation to the manufacturer, but the manufacturer has not agreed to an acceptable recall or offered a remedy to consumers. The 216-piece magnetic ball sets, priced at around $9, were sold online at www.us.shein.com.

The agency also recommended against the use of Magnetic Ferrite Stones sold by UYPEA. Again, UYPEA of China has not agreed to recall the product or offer a remedy to customers. The toy features over 600 small, separable magnetic ferrite stones, packaged in clear plastic with a “Warning” label and a portable tin storage case. These Magnetic Ferrite Stones were sold for about $22 on www.amazon.com and potentially through other online and physical retailers.

Consumers are also being warned against buying Magnetic Chess Games sold by Maemall. The chess games were packaged in a blue box labeled “Magnetic” on both the front and back. Each set contains approximately 20 loose black magnets, a yellow string, a plastic drawstring storage bag, and play instructions. These magnetic chess games were available online at www.walmart.com for around $14. The CPSC also issued a notice of violation to the seller, who has not agreed to recall the game or offer any remedy.

After testing each of the products affected by these new warnings, the CPSC discovered that the magnetic toy sets are in violation of safety standards due to the products containing one or more strong magnets that fit within the CPSC’s small parts cylinder.

Officials warn that if more than one of the powerful magnets are swallowed, they may attract to each other while moving through the intestines. This may cause the magnets to become lodged in the digestive system and cause twisting, perforations or blockages in the intestines. Often this results in the need for emergency removal surgery and can result in death or severe life-long health problems for the child.

The CPSC is urging consumers to immediately stop using all of the above magnetic sets, take them from children and dispose of them. Any incidents regarding injury or product defect  can be reported at www.SaferProducts.gov.