Death prompts recall of building sets
Magnetic building sets cause illness in over 30 children, as small magnets cause damage when swallowed.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Several million magnetic building sets have been recalled in the United States because more than 30 children fell ill -- and one died -- after swallowing small magnets that fell out of the toys, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.

Parents should immediately take all Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets away from their small children, the CPSC said, estimating that 3.8 million sets have been sold.

Parents should immediately take all Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets away from their small children, the CPSC said.
Parents should immediately take all Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets away from their small children, the CPSC said.

A 20-month-old boy died after swallowing magnets that twisted his small intestine and caused a blockage, the CPSC said. Overall, 34 incidents involving small children have been reported to the government.

Three children, ranging in age from 3 to 8 years, "had intestinal perforations that required surgery and hospitalization in intensive care," the CSPC said. "A 5-year-old child aspirated two magnets that were surgically removed from his lung."

"Tiny magnets inside the plastic building pieces and rods can fall out," the CPSC said. "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."

It's estimated that 3.8 million of the All Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets have been sold in the United States by Wal-Mart (Research), Target (Research), Toys R Us, Fred Meyer, Design Science Toys and A.C. Moore (Research), as well as other toy and arts and craft stores since September 2003, the CPSC said.

The sets were made in China and imported into the United States by Rose Art Industries, of Livingston, N.J.

The recall was voluntarily, the CPSC said.

The sets contain 20 to 200 red, yellow, blue and green plastic building pieces shaped as squares, triangles and cylinder rods. Some pieces have "Magnetix" imprinted on them, the CPSC said. The sets also include 20 to 100 half-inch steel balls.

"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," the CPSC said. "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."

The CPSC suggested consumers could contact the company through its Web site: www.roseart.com.

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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.