Magnet Balls Sold on Amazon.com Recalled Due to Risk of Internal Injuries

Nanospheres Magnetic Desk Toys, sold exclusively on Amazon.com, are the latest set of magnet balls to be removed from the market due to risks of severe injury and death that may result if young children or teens place the marble-sized magnets in their mouths and accidentally swallow them. 

A magnet ball recall was announced last week by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). While there have been no injuries linked to Nanospheres, nearly identical magnetic toy sets made by other manufacturers have been linked to more than 80 reports of serious health problems after they were ingestion, with at least 79 of those cases requiring medical intervention, the CPSC reports.

The recalled magnet balls were sold in sets of 231 small powerful magnets about 5mm in diameter each, which are black, gold or silver in color. The magnets were sold in circular metal canisters labeled “Nanospheres” about 2.5 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches tall with a blue and black label.

About 4,200 of the sets were sold exclusively on Amazon.com for about $25 to $30 from November 2010 through December 2011. They were manufactured by Kringle Toys and Gifts of American Fork, Utah.

The CPSC is trying to get all magnet ball sets, generally sold as adult office desk toys, off the market. The regulatory move comes after numerous reports of these magnets causing severe internal injuries to children and teens when two or more are swallowed, which can occur while attempting to simulate a tongue or cheek piercing. 

If swallowed, the high-powered magnets can attract across intestinal walls, potentially resulting in puncture, damage and obstruction of the digestive system, often requiring surgery to remove.

According to a recent report on safety concerns involving magnetic balls, an estimated 1,700 incidents involving children or teens swallowing the magnets have occurred since January 2009.

Despite efforts to place strong warning labels on the products, regulators have found that the warning labels had no effect on making the products any safer for children, or stemming the tide of youths sent to emergency rooms; some of whom had sections of their bowels removed and face permanent digestive problems.

The CPSC recommends that consumers stop using these magnet toys immediately and contact the company to arrange to return them for a full refund. Consumers can contact Kringles Toys and Gifts by calling (888) 801-1649. They can also visit the website at www.kringlestoysandgifts.com or send an e-mail to customerservice@Kringlestoysandgifts.com.