Almost 200,000 Buckyballs High Powered Magnet toy sets are being recalled due to a choking and intestinal perforation hazard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.
New York City-based Maxfield and Oberton, LLC is issuing the recall because the magnetic toy sets are non-compliant with ASTM International’s toy safety standard No. F963-08. This industry standard, effective August 2009, regulates the strength of magnets that can be sold to children of certain ages. The Buckyballs toy sets are marketed to children 13 and older, but the strength of the magnets, according to the standard, is too strong for that age group.
If swallowed, magnetic toys not only pose a choking hazard but can also attract to each other inside a child’s intestinal system if more than one magnet is swallowed. The strong magnetic attraction can draw two magnets together even if they are passing through different parts of the intestinal tract, and therefore tear or perforate a child’s intestine, causing severe internal damage. There have been two reports of children swallowing Buckyballs High Powered Magnets.
Buckyballs magnets that are labeled “Keep away from children” are not being recalled, however, packages labeled “Ages 13+” ARE being recalled. They were sold at toy stores, office supply stores and various other retailers, including online, from March 2009 through March 2010.
Child safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen attorneys are currently representing several victims who have suffered intestinal damage due to swallowing Magnetix brand magnetic toys. Having experienced the devastating effects of these cases, Pritzker Olsen child safety lawyers join the CPSC in advising parents to keep these toys away from children and exercise extreme caution when any magnetic toys or small magnetic items are placed anywhere near children.
