Release Date: January 18, 2024
Release Number: 24-083
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using and dispose of Pedetid 216-Piece 5mm Magic Magnet Ball Sets because the loose, hazardous magnets pose a risk of serious injury or death if ingested by children.
CPSC testing determined the Magic Magnet Ball Sets do not comply with the requirements of the mandatory federal toy regulation because they contain one or more magnets that fit within CPSC’s small parts cylinder and the magnets are stronger than permitted.
When high-powered magnets are swallowed, the ingested magnets can attract to each other, or to another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting, and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning and death.
CPSC estimates 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospital emergency departments from 2017 through 2021. CPSC is aware of seven deaths involving the ingestion of hazardous magnets, including two outside of the United States.
CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, Pedetid Store, of China, but the firm has not agreed to recall these magnetic ball sets or offer a remedy to consumers. Consumers who purchased the product will receive this notice directly.
The magnetic ball sets were sold online at www.walmart.com for about $14. The sets were sold in a set of multi-colored magnetic balls in the form of a cube. The sets were sold encased in a clear plastic case and a portable tin storage box.
CPSC urges consumers to stop using the magnetic balls sets immediately, take them away from children, and dispose of them.
Report any incidents involving injury or product defect to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.
Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.
