How High-Powered Magnetic Toys Can Harm Children – HealthyChildren.org
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned of seven deaths and over 2,000 emergency-room visits linked to the ingestion of small, powerful magnets found in toys. These incidents occurred between 2017 and 2021, prompting a voluntary recall of a toy set by XpressGoods and warnings about six other companies with similar products. The magnets, roughly the size of a pea, pose serious risks if swallowed alone or with other objects, potentially causing perforation, blockage, blood poisoning, or even death. The commission established a safety standard for small magnets in 2022, mandating that they be either too large to swallow or weak enough to minimize internal injury risks when ingested.
Despite this standard, at least seven companies in 2023 were found selling products that failed to meet the requirements. XpressGoods, one of the companies, recalled its Neodymium Magic Magnetic Balls. The commission listed other non-compliant products and urged consumers to cease using them immediately. Some companies, including those based in China, were unresponsive or unreachable. The commission has the authority to initiate mandatory recalls or legal action, but these processes can be lengthy. This recent warning echoes past concerns, as in 2021, the commission enforced a mandatory recall after two children underwent surgery due to ingested magnets from a toy set produced by Zen Magnets LLC.
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