Fidgets are all the rage and come in many shapes and sizes. Some are squishy and quiet, others click and clack. And then there are the mesmerizing toy magnets that can be crafted into multiple shapes thanks to miniature, powerful magnets. What many people are only beginning to realize is that these fidgets and desk toys are a serious health hazard. Toy magnets have been linked to seven deaths – five in the United States – and 2,400 hospitalizations.
Severe Health Problems Caused by Ingesting Toy Magnets
If multiple toy magnets are swallowed, they act inside the body exactly as they are designed to act outside – attract each other, even though there may be tissue in between the magnets. Their fierce movement through the body can cause:
- Perforations
- Intestinal blockages
- Intestinal twisting
- Infection
- Blood poisoning
- Death
Federal safety regulators have warned consumers to stop using any high-powered, magnetic-ball toy sets, particularly those linked to deaths and injuries. There is no reason to take a chance on a small, tempting toy when any other type of distraction could suffice.
Safety Warnings for Toy Magnets
Little kids eat things, even things they’re not supposed to eat. The tiny magnetic balls that make up toy magnet fidgets in particular are super-small and no doubt seem innocuous. They’re not. They’re some of the most dangerous toys a family can have in their house for kids (and curious pets).
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has flagged several children’s products that are not in compliance with United States safety regulations because they contain magnets small enough to fit down a child’s throat. These include:
- Magic QQ 216-Piece Mixed Color Magnetic Ball Sets
- Ming Tai Trade’s 216-piece 5mm Magnetic Ball Sets
- Sunny House 125-Piece 5mm Mixed Color Magnet Ball Sets
- Allvre 216-Piece 5mm Magnetic Ball Sets
- Carrara Magnetic Ball Sets sold by myKmarket.com
The 2,400 emergency hospitalizations that occurred because of toy magnets took place between 2017 and 2021. One of the companies involved in the distribution of the named magnets, Xpressgoods in Raleigh, North Carolina, agreed to recall over 700 units and advised customers to return their products for a full refund or store credit. Manufacturers – four based on China and one in South Korea – have not agreed to any recalls or other remedies.
Protect Your Kids from Their Toys
The American-produced market for magnet sets has mostly diminished but foreign retailers continue to sell these magnetic balls on major shopping sites like Amazon and Walmart. “It’s a tough product to get rid of because they are almost all now coming from overseas, from who knows where,” says Nancy Cowles, executive director of the advocacy group Kids in Danger.
Even if safety regulations in the U.S. work to remove the online listings, it is not possible to force foreign companies to comply with issuing recalls the way U.S.-based sellers are required.
If your child has suffered because of accidental ingestion of toy magnets, find out if you have a personal injury case. Schedule a consultation with Thurswell Law to discuss your case by calling (248) 354-2222 today. Find out how you can get compensation. We do not charge any fees until we win.
