Tiny magnetic balls sold by Walmart recalled; regulators cite 7 dead and thousands hospitalized
Walmart has issued a recall for small magnetic balls, linking them to seven deaths and numerous hospitalizations, as regulators take action due to safety concerns.
On Thursday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall for small yet potent magnetic balls utilized as both building blocks and stress-relief tools. The recall was prompted by thousands of hospitalizations and at least seven fatalities associated with similar products.
The recalled items, known as Relax magnetic balls, were exclusively available online at Walmart, sold in sets comprising 216 multicoloured balls, each measuring 5 mm. The recall encompasses more than 4,200 units, which were retailed from February 2022 to April 2022, with a price range of $14 to $15, as indicated in the recall notice.
The safety commission disclosed that it had documented an estimated 2,400 cases of magnet ingestion treated in hospital emergency departments from 2017 through 2021. Notably, the recall notice highlighted seven fatalities linked to the ingestion of hazardous magnets, including two incidents outside the United States.
Furthermore, the Safety Commission emphasized that the magnetic ball sets failed to comply with mandatory federal magnet regulations. This non-compliance stemmed from the inclusion of one or more magnets that fit within the CPSC's small parts cylinder, surpassing the permitted strength limits. Ingesting these powerful magnets poses a significant risk, as they can attract to one another or other metal objects, potentially leading to complications such as perforations, twisting, blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning, and even death.
The manufacturing of these magnetic balls takes place in China, and the products are distributed by a company named Joybuy. Attempts to reach Joybuy for immediate comment on Thursday afternoon were unsuccessful.
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