Child Safety: CPSC Recalls 10 Million Magnets

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently launched a large-scale recall of approximately 10 million Zen Magnets and Neoballs magnets due to a serious ingestion hazard. Retailers first began to sell the items individually and in sets online and in-person in January 2009.

The CPSC issued the mandatory recall after discovering that if a child swallows two or more high-powered magnets (both Zen Magnets and Neoball magnets are high-powered, 5 mm spherical magnets), the ingested products can attract to each other, or to another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system. This can lead to intestinal perforations, twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning, and even death. Even if a person swallows only one magnet, it can still become lodged in the throat, lungs, or esophagus, which can result in difficulty breathing, choking, or physical damage to the area.

So far, Zen Magnets has reported two incidents in which children swallowed the items and required surgery to remove them. In both cases, the children lost parts of their bowels and intestines. The CPSC has also received other reports of children and teens ingesting the magnets and needing surgical intervention to recover. The agency is also aware of the death of a 19-month-girl that died after she accidentally ingested similar high-powered magnets and is taking the threat very seriously.

The recalled Zen Magnets were sold individually and in sets of 72, 216 with 6 spare pieces, and 1,728 with 8 spares. The retailer sold individual magnets for 6 to 10 cents per magnet and in sets for $12 to $264. The Neoball magnets were also sold individually or in sets. They were sold in gold, silver, red, orange, green, blue, or purple. “Zen Magnets” or “Neoballs” is printed on the items’ packaging. The recalled products were sold online at Neoballs.com and ZenMagnets.com, as well as at certain in-person retailers in Colorado. The CPSC is advising anyone in possession of the recalled Zen Magnets or Neoball magnets to immediately stop using the items and to contact the companies for a full refund.

Each year, defective or unsafe products injure thousands of consumers. Too often, these injuries are serious or fatal. Manufacturers, suppliers, and sellers have a duty to produce and sell safe products. If a product causes an injury due to an unsafe design, a manufacturing defect, or the failure to provide proper instructions, the victim can file a products liability lawsuit. To learn more about filing a claim if you or a loved one sustained injuries associated with an unsafe or defective product, contact a representative who can help online now.

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