New recall of magnetic toys highlights warning on dangers

Two Magnabild magnetic building sets, totaling 125,000 units, have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because the small, powerful magnets inside the pieces can fall out and be swallowed. If multiple magnets are ingested, they can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

The CPSC and Battat, the company that makes Magnabild, have received 16 reports of magnets coming out of the rod or square building pieces. No injuries have been associated with this recall.

Last year, the CPSC identified magnets as one of five hidden home hazards following the recall of millions of Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets. Since 2005, one death and 86 injuries have been linked to magnets and 8 million magnetic toys have been recalled.

This latest recall involves the 293-piece (item number BB1502H) and the 180-piece (item number BB1431H) Magnabild Magnetic Building System sets. Both sets come in rotating display cases with building pieces in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors that contain small magnets. All of the plastic building pieces, except the 4-inch flexible rods, have the word “Magnabild” in raised lettering on them. The item number is found on a hang tag attached to the set. They were sold at various retailers and online sellers from 2005 through 2007 for between $30 and $40.

Consumers should immediately take the recalled sets away from children and contact Battat to receive a pre-paid mailer to return the toy and to receive a free replacement product. For additional information, contact Battat at (800) 247-6144 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.battatco.com.

Wooden block and train recall
Also this week, the CPSC recalled two sets of wooden blocks and a wooden train sold at Christmas Tree Shops under the First Learning brand because the surface paint violates lead standards. The recall involves 15,000 units including 30-block sets, 60-block sets and 70-piece train sets. The items were sold at Christmas Tree Shops located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions from October 2006 through November 2007 for between $4 and $20. For additional information, contact Christmas Tree Shops at (888) 287-3232 or visit the firm’s Web site at www.christmastreeshops.com.

Comments

[Danny Boy]

Dear C.U.
I remember when I was a kid in the fifties that most of the cheap toys came from Japan. Has anyone every tested the quality of the Japanese toys that used to come over here by the boat load. I wonder if they were any less dangerous than the toys from China? Does anyone know?

[FRANK CRANE]

Thank you for these extremely valuable updates. At the same time this brings me to understand why toys (and many other products sold for our little people) are so expensive. Can you imagine trying to re-coup the losses from a careless miscalculation on the sale of 125,000 units. The company wants to turn a profit. They must if they are going to stay in business.

Back in "the good old days" it was buyer-beware and occasionally we paid for it dearly. But toys were cheap. Many of them were imported from countries where the maker had no liability because no one was watching. The Watch Dogs are doing great things, even if occasionally they are over-zealous. But what is the meaning of over-zealous when it comes to the safety of kids or any of us for that matter.

Keep up the good reporting, CU, and we will keep reading!

[Stormi]

It's great to know that China is looking out for us! Why not slowly kills us with Lead.

[Joy]

It's great to know that the agencies concerned in protecting consumers' safety are really doing their job well in inspecting and recalling these products, if necessary.