NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2008
Release #08-222
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 779-7122
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
MEGA Brands Recalls MagnaMan Magnetic Action
Figures; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and
Intestinal Hazards
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm
named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should
stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: MagnaMan Magnetic Toy Figures
Units: About 1.3 million
Distributor: MEGA Brands America Inc., of Livingston, N.J.
Hazard: Small magnets inside the figures can detach. Magnets found by young children can be
swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and
cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.
Incidents/Injuries: MEGA Brands and CPSC have received 25 reports of magnets coming loose from
the figures. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recalled MagnaMan magnetic toys are figures that have body parts that attach with
magnets. They come in either a “Futuristic Warrior” or “Ancient Warrior” theme. Each figure comes with
three accessories.
Name
Color
Model #
Name
Model #
Alien
Green
28170
Robot Assortment
28198
Robotor
Red
28171
Vac Metal
28327
Flame
Orange
28172
4-Pack
28175
Gigantor
Blue
28173
3-Pack
28393
Toyoto the Samurai
Purple
28164
2-Pack
28392
Sir Lancelo
ot the Knight Gray
281165
Vac Metal
M
Assortm
ment
Eric the Vik
king
Blue
281166
Assorrtment
Brutus the Gladiator
G
Yellow
281167
283227
28254 orr 28199
The mode
el number is printed
p
on the
e front of the product’s
p
packaging.
Sold at: Wal-Mart,
W
Tarrget, Toys R Us,
U K-Mart an
nd other toy stores nationw
wide from January 2005 thrrough
Decembe
er 2007 for about $10.
Manufacttured in: Chin
na
Remedy: Consumers should
s
stop using
u
the reca
alled toys imm
mediately and return them to
t MEGA Bra
ands
for a free replacement toy.
Consume
er Contact: For
F additional information, contact MEG
GA Brands at (800)
(
779-712
22 between 8 a.m.
and 6 p.m
m. ET Monday
y through Frid
day, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.m
megabrands.ccom
Consumers can also
a
view a vid
deo clip (transcript) about this recall. Th
his is in "strea
aming video"
format.
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2007
Release #07-164
Washington, DC 20207
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 779-7122
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Magnetix Magnetic Building Set Recall Expanded
Serious Injuries Continue to be Reported to CPSC
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Additional serious injuries to children reported following the March 31, 2006 recall
announcement of Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets have prompted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission and Mega Brands America, Inc. ("Mega Brands") (the new owner of Rose Art Industries,
Inc.) to announce an expanded recall. In excess of 4 million units are involved. The recall includes all
sets, except newer Magnetix sets sold since March 31, 2006, that are age-labeled 6+ and sets that
contain the following caution label:
"CAUTION: Do not ingest or inhale magnets.
Attraction of magnets in the body may cause
serious injury and require immediate medical care."
Mega Brands advises that sets currently at retail better retain magnets due to improved quality control,
material and design changes. These products are not included in the recall.
To date, CPSC and Mega Brands are aware of one death, one aspiration and 27 intestinal injuries.
Emergency surgical intervention was needed in all but one case. At least 1,500 incidents of magnets
separating from the building pieces have been reported. Although the hazard was initially thought to be a
problem primarily for children younger than six, it has since been learned that at least ten injuries involved
children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old.
If a child swallows more than one tiny powerful magnet detached from the plastic building pieces or one
such magnet and a metallic object, the objects can attract to each other inside the intestines and cause
perforations and/or blockage, which can be fatal, if not treated immediately.
"CPSC is deeply concerned about the dangers that small, powerful magnets can pose to children if
swallowed," said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "In order for any product recall to be effective in
protecting consumers, we must significantly reduce incidents and injuries from occurring after the recall is
announced." Mega Brands has been cooperative in this expanded recall.
These older sets, which were manufactured in China, contain up to 250 plastic building pieces and 1/2inch diameter steel balls. The building pieces include 1 1/2-inch squares, 1-inch triangles, cylinder rods,
flexors, connectors, x-tenders, and curves and come in an assortment of colors such as metallic, primary,
translucent, and glow in the dark.
Mass merchants and other toy and arts and crafts stores sold the sets nationwide for between $20 and
$60, depending on the size of the set.
Consumers should stop using the recalled magnetic sets immediately and contact Mega Brands for a
comparable replacement toy. If consumers are uncertain as to whether their product is being recalled,
they can contact Mega Brands at (800) 779-7122 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday,
or visit the firm's Web site at www.megabrands.com
The CPSC is urging consumers to immediately report any incidents of loose magnets to the CPSC
Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or to the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2008
Release #08-223
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 779-7122
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
MEGA Brands Recalls Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. PreSchool Magnetic Toys; Ingested Magnets Pose
Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm
named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should
stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school Magnetic Toys
Units: About 1.1 million
Distributor: MEGA Brands America Inc., of Livingston, N.J.
Hazard: Magnets in the small flexible parts of the animals, vehicles and building sets can detach.
Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed,
the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.
Incidents/Injuries: MEGA Brands and CPSC have received 19 reports of magnets coming loose,
including one report of a 3-year-old boy receiving medical treatment to remove a magnet from his nasal
cavity and one report of an 18-month-old boy with a magnet in his mouth, which was not swallowed.
Description: The Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school Magnetic Toys include small flexible parts
embedded with magnets that allow the parts to connect to large, colored metal balls.
Name of Product
Model #
Magtastik Starter Set
427
40 Piece Tub
468
Magtastik Deluxe Set
428
Deluxe New Starter Set
467
Primary
429
Wonder Coaster
465
Primary Starter
431
Starter Set – New Parts
496
Car
434
Magnimals – Monkey
424
Name of Product
Model #
Hellicopter
435
Magnim
mals – Dog
425
Fun
n Pack
448
Magnim
mals – Dinosaurr
426
Jum
mbo 24 Piece Bag
B
456
Magnim
mals Assortmennt
423
Rou
und Bag
461
Mag Moobile Assortmeent
433
12 Piece Mag Bagg
462
Magnim
mals Pet Set
436
Tarrget Bucket
466
Magnim
mals Bonus Packk
446
Easter Pack
469
The mode
el number is printed
p
on the
e front of the product’s
p
packaging.
Sold at: Wal-Mart,
W
Tarrget, Toys R Us,
U K-Mart an
nd other toy stores nationw
wide from January 2005 thrrough
Decembe
er 2007 for between $10 an
nd $40.
Manufacttured in: Chin
na
Remedy: Consumers should
s
stop using
u
the reca
alled toys imm
mediately and return them to
t MEGA Bra
ands
for a free replacement toy.
Consume
er Contact: For
F additional information, contact MEG
GA Brands at (800)
(
779-712
22 between 8 a.m.
and 6 p.m
m. ET Monday
y through Frid
day, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.m
megabrands.ccom
Consumers can also
a
view a vid
deo clip (transcript) about this recall. Th
his is in "strea
aming video"
format.
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2006
Release #06-127
Washington, DC 20207
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 779-7122
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Child's Death Prompts Replacement Program of
Magnetic Building Sets
Important Note: There is an update to this recall, which can be found by clicking here
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm
named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should
stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: All Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets
Units: About 3.8 million
Importer: Rose Art Industries Inc., of Livingston, N.J.
Hazard: Tiny magnets inside the plastic building pieces and rods can fall out. Magnets found by young
children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract to
each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal. This product is unsuitable for
young children.
Incidents/Injuries: CPSC is aware of 34 incidents involving small magnets, including one death and four
serious injuries. A 20-month-old boy died after he swallowed magnets that twisted his small intestine and
created a blockage. Three children ages ranging from 3 to 8 had intestinal perforations that required
surgery and hospitalization in intensive care. A 5-year-old child aspirated two magnets that were
surgically removed from his lung.
Description: All Magnetix magnetic building sets including the X-treme Combo, Micro, and Extreme sets.
The sets contain 20 to 200 plastic building pieces and 20 to 100 1/2-inch diameter steel balls. The
building pieces are red, yellow, blue and green, and are shaped in 1 1/2-inch squares, 1-inch triangles
and cylinder rods. Some plastic building pieces have "Magnetix" imprinted on them.
Sold at: Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, Fred Meyer, Design Science Toys Ltd., A.C. Moore, and other toy
and arts and crafts stores nationwide. The Magnetix magnetic building sets were sold from September
2003 through March 2006 for between $20 and $60, depending on the size of the set. The replacement
program does not include sets at retail.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the magnetic sets and return the sets to Rose Art for a free
replacement product suitable for young children under the age of 6. Consumers should be sure to keep
all small magnet parts out of the hands of children who mouth objects, especially children under the age
of three.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Rose Art at (800) 779-7122 between 8 a.m. and
6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit Rose Art's Web site at www.roseart.com