U.S. Agency Warns Against Toys With Deadly China-Made Magnetic Balls

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning about the danger of high-powered, pea-sized magnets found in toys.

The made-in-China Neodymium Magnetic Balls recalled were sold by XpressGoods, a North Carolina company, from July 2021 through May 2022.

They announced one company’s recall of a set containing them and said they were aware of seven deaths linked to their ingestion, as reported by the Associated Press (AP).

The federal agency estimated that ingestion of the magnets led to 2,400 hospital emergency room visits from 2017-2021 in addition to the deaths, two of which it said occurred outside the United States.

“Consumers should stop using the recalled magnetic balls immediately, (and) take them away from children,” CPSC said in an online notice. Made from rare-earth metals, each ball measures five millimeters.

The safety commission said the magnets were stronger than permitted by federal toy regulations and could kill children if two or more are swallowed, as they can attract each other in the stomach, perforating intestinal walls, twisting and/or blocking intestines — which could lead to infection and blood poisoning.

The made-in-China Neodymium Magnetic Balls recalled were sold by XpressGoods, a North Carolina company, from July 2021 through May 2022. It said the company offered full refunds and directly contacted purchasers of the roughly 700 units it had sold.

WEEKLY FEATURE : Jose Mari Chan And The Christmas Anthem