Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets are associated with one child’s death and at least 27 intestinal injuries since their initial recall in spring 2006, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The powerful magnets in these toy building sets, made by Rose Art Industries Inc., (now known as MEGA Brands America Inc.) can come loose from plastic cases and can stick together inside the intestinal tract of a child who swallows them. This can cause intestinal perforation and blocking.
Of the 27 injuries the CPSC has announced, all but one required emergency surgery. A second, expanded Magnetix recall was announced in 2007, stating that 4 million toy sets were involved in the recall. At that time the CPSC reported a total of 1,500 incidents of magnets coming loose from their casing, causing injury in children up to 11 years of age.
According to investigations by the law firm Pritzker Olsen, P.A., these defective toys have caused injury to victims as recently as 2009.
The recalled Magnetix sets were sold from 2003 to 2006 at major retailers nationwide including:
- Wal-Mart
- Target
- Toys “R” Us
- Fred Meyer
- Design Science Toys Ltd.
- A.C. Moore
- Other toy stores and arts and craft stores
Recalled Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets Description
- Includes X-treme Combo set, Micro set and Extreme set
- Sets include 20-200 plastic pieces (yellow, red, blue and green) and 20-100 steel balls about a half-inch in diameter
- Some peices have the word “Magnetix” printed on them
Magnetic toy dangers have emerged as a matter of increasing concern for the CPSC, and the commission suggest parents follow these steps to prevent children from swallowing harmful magnetic toys:
- If your child swallows a magnet see a doctor right away
- Symptoms may include: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- In x-rays, what appears to be a single object could actually be several magnets stuck together yet separated by intestinal walls
- Keep small magnets OF ANY KIND away from small children
