Discount School Supply Recalls Sorting Boards Due to Magnet Ingestion Risk and Excessive Lead Levels (Recall Alert)
CPSC recall 14734 · announced May 7, 2014 · Discount School Supply · 3,700 units affected
The product
This recall involves Excellerations™ magnetic color sorting boards with cupcake cut-outs that are used to teach color and sorting to young children. The recalled sorting board is made of plywood and is 16 inches wide and 12 inches high and has the Excellerations™ name and logo on the front in the bottom right corner. A clear plastic cover is attached to the board by rivets and a 4-inch long wand with a magnet in one end is attached to the top of the board by a 13.5-inch plastic cord. The face of the board has one jar-shaped cut-out and six cupcake-shaped cut-outs that are colored red, yellow, blue, green, orange and purple. Beneath the cover are about 60 multi-colored metal balls, each 1 centimeter in diameter. Children use the wand to move the balls around the board through channels from the jar to the cupcakes.
The hazard
The magnet in the wand can detach and the plywood backing can crack and release small metal balls that are sandwiched between the board and a clear plastic cover. These pose choking and serious internal injury risks associated with ingestion of a magnet and metal ball. The surface paint on the metal balls contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint standard.
What to do (per CPSC)
Consumers should immediately stop children from using the recalled board, put it out of their reach and sight, and contact the company for a full refund. Remedy type: Refund
Notes
Incidents (per CPSC): Discount School Supply has received six reports of the plywood backing cracking and making the small metal balls accessible to children, and two reports of the magnet detaching from the wand. No injuries have been reported.
Sold at: Discountschoolsupply.com from January 2013 through March 2014 for about $36.
Consumer contact: Discount School Supply at (800) 338-4430 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or online at www.discountschoolsupply.com, and click on "Safety Information" 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.