Kringles Toys and Gifts Recalls High Powered Magnets Due to Ingestion Hazard; Sold Exclusively on Amazon.com
CPSC recall 13111 · announced January 31, 2013 · Kringle Toys And Gifts · 4,200 units affected
The product
The products were sold for use as an adult novelty item or desk toy with appropriate hazard warnings and stating the intended age level as 14 years and older. Nanospheres is a mass of 231 small powerful magnets that are either silver, gold or black in color. Each magnet is about 5mm in diameter. The magnets come in a circular metal canister approximately 2.5 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches tall with a black and blue label displaying the product name "Nanospheres."
The hazard
If two or more magnets are swallowed, they can link together inside a child's intestines and clamp onto body tissues, causing intestinal obstructions, perforations, sepsis and death. Internal injury from magnets can pose serious lifelong health effects.
What to do (per CPSC)
Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact the company to arrange for return and a full refund. Remedy type: Refund
Notes
Incidents (per CPSC): The firm has received no reports of incidents or injury. CPSC has received 80 reports of incidents involving ingestion of other high powered magnets, resulting in 79 reports seeking medical intervention.
Sold at: Amazon.com from November 2010 through December 2011 for about $25 to $30.
Consumer contact: Kringles Toys and Gifts toll-free at (888) 801-1649 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, e-mail customerservice@kringlestoysandgifts.com, or website www.kringlestoysandgifts.com and click on Product Recall for more information.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission public recall data. This page reports official records and is not legal, medical, or repair advice.