Children's Product Recalls » magnets

My Own Recall Experience with MEGA Brands

CP_Recalls — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 04:23:02 +0000

I started this blog about a year ago, trying my best to keep an updated list of recalled products related to children’s products. So imagine my shock and surprise when I noticed an item I had purchased a couple of years earlier was on the CPSC’s Most Wanted list. Sad thing is, I had never heard of the recall, and still wouldn’t have any idea the toy was recalled if I hadn’t visited the site. This is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with a recalled item, so I thought I’d record my experience with it.

The recalled item in question is MEGA Brands Megtastik Starter Set. The press release information for the item is below.

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 # 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

Helicopter 435 Magnimals – Dog 425

Fun Pack 448 Magnimals – Dinosaur 426

Jumbo 24 Piece Bag 456 Magnimals Assortment 423

Round Bag 461 Mag Mobile Assortment 433

12 Piece Mag Bag 462 Magnimals Pet Set 436

Target Bucket 466 Magnimals Bonus Pack 446

Easter Pack 469

The model number is printed on the front of the product’s packaging.

Sold at: Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, K-Mart and other toy stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2007 for between $10 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled toys immediately and return them to MEGA Brands for a free replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, 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

Consumers can also view a video clip (transcript) about this recall. This is in “streaming video” format.

Name of Product	Model #	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
Helicopter	435	Magnimals – Dog	425
Fun Pack	448	Magnimals – Dinosaur	426
Jumbo 24 Piece Bag	456	Magnimals Assortment	423
Round Bag	461	Mag Mobile Assortment	433
12 Piece Mag Bag	462	Magnimals Pet Set	436
Target Bucket	466	Magnimals Bonus Pack	446
		Easter Pack	469

I went to the MEGA Brands web site and followed the directions for submitting my recall request. Months passed by before I had heard anything. As a matter of fact, I just assumed I was out of luck because I had never heard anything. That my information was just lost in cyberspace or that no one was manning the recall requests anymore. Finally, I got an envelope in the mail with a letter acknowledging my recall request and instructions on how to send in my product along with a prepaid airbill for UPS Ground.

I sent in my recalled product on Friday, December 17, 2010. Using my tracking number, I was able to verify that the shipment containing the product I was returning had been received on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. I’ll post any updates as they occur.

Wish me luck!

Updated 6/17/11:

It’s been 6 months since I returned back my recalled toy, and not so much as a peep out of MEGA Brands. Are they waiting for Christmas? Maybe they only process recall claims once a year? Or could it be that some alien spaceship dropped out of the sky, swooped up my package, and whisked it to a galaxy far, far away where little alien children are now at risk of choking on dislodged magnets???

Magnetic Maze Boards Recalled by Lakeshore Learning Materials Due to Choking, Intestinal and Aspiration Hazards

CP_Recalls — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:39:05 +0000

Name of Product: Magnetic maze boards

Units: About 18,500

Manufacturer: Lakeshore Learning Materials, of Carson, Calif.

Hazard: The magnetic maze board’s plastic wand can separate and expose a magnet that can be a choking hazard to children. Also, if a child has more than one of these toys and the magnets detach and are swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

Incidents/Injuries: Lakeshore has received ten reports of wands separating and magnets detaching. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves wooden magnetic maze boards. The wooden boards have a clear plastic sheet that covers small wooden or plastic pieces located inside a maze. A plastic wand containing a magnet in its tip is attached to the board by a cord. The wand is used to move items inside the maze. The top of the board reads: “Who’s Hiding in the Garden?,” “Who’s Hiding in the Ocean?,” “Magnetic Counting Maze,” “Magnetic Alphabet Board” or “My Community Magnetic Board.”

Sold by: Lakeshore Learning Materials stores nationwide, its catalogs and online at www.lakeshorelearning.com from January 2009 through May 2010 singly or in sets for between $30 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take this toy away from children and contact Lakeshore to receive a free replacement product.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Lakeshore Learning Materials at (800) 428-4414 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s website at www.lakeshorelearning.com

Lakeshore Who's Hiding Magnetic Maze Boards

Lakeshore Magnetic Counting Maze Boards

Lakeshore Magnetic Alphabet Maze Boards

Lakeshore My Community Maze Boards

Buckyballs® High Powered Magnets Sets Recalled by Maxfield and Oberton Due to Violation of Federal Toy Standard

CP_Recalls — Fri, 28 May 2010 06:48:30 +0000

Name of Product: Buckyballs® High Powered Magnets Sets

Units: About 175,000

Importer: Maxfield and Oberton LLC, of New York, N.Y.

Hazard: The high powered magnets sets were labeled “Ages 13+” and do not meet the mandatory toy standard F963-08 (effective August 17, 2009) which requires that such powerful magnets are not sold for children under 14. 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: The firm has received two reports of children swallowing one or more magnets. No injuries were reported.

Description: This recall involves the Buckyballs® high powered magnets sets labeled “Ages 13+”. The set contains 216 powerful rare earth magnets. It is intended to build unlimited shapes and patterns. Since March 2010, Buckyballs® high powered magnets sets were labeled “Keep Away From All Children” and are not being recalled.

Sold at: The recalled magnets were sold at a variety of stores, including stores selling children’s toys, stationery and office supplies and various online sites from March 2009 through March 2010.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the Buckyballs® high powered magnets sets labeled “Ages 13+” away from children under 14 immediately and contact Maxfield and Oberton for instructions on receiving a refund upon return of a complete set of magnets.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Maxfield and Oberton at (888) 847-8716 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.maxfieldandobertonsafety.com

Buckyballs Recalled Magnets Set

Weight Watchers Recalls Plush Hungry Figures and Magnets Due to Puncture Hazard

CP_Recalls — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:04:29 +0000

Weight Watchers Plush Hungry Figures

Name of product: Hungry Figures and Hungry Magnets

Units: About 420,000 in the United States and 25,000 in Canada

Distributor: Weight Watchers Intl., of New York, N.Y.

Manufacturer: Shanghai Oriland Toys Co. Ltd, of China

Hazard: Sewing needles have been found in the stuffing of the Hungry Figures, posing a puncture hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Weight Watchers has received two reports from company employees of a sewing needle being found in two Hungry Figures. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The Hungry Figures and Hungry Magnets have orange plush exteriors. The Hungry Figure is about 6 inches long and the Hungry Magnet is about 4 inches long.

Sold exclusively by: Weight Watchers between April 2009 and July 2009 for between $4 and $7.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Hungry Figures and Hungry Magnets and return them to Weight Watchers to receive a full refund or a credit towards the purchase of another product.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Weight Watchers toll-free at (866) 288-3891 between 8:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.weightwatchers.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release can be seen at http://209.217.71.106/PR/recall-retrait-e.jsp?re_id=833