Walmart has issued a warning to its customers about a magnetic toy kit that has been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The recall is due to the alarming number of hospitalizations and at least seven deaths linked to similar products.
The product in question is the “Relax 5mm Science Kit, Large Hematite Magnets Magnetic Stones Building Blocks,” which was sold exclusively online at Walmart through Joybuy.
Product Details and Recall Scope
The high-powered magnetic balls, sold in sets of 216 multi-colored balls measuring 5 mm each, were available for purchase from February 2022 through April 2023, priced between $14 and $15.
Approximately 4,240 units are subject to recall. While no injuries have been directly linked to this specific product, the CPSC estimates that from 2017 through 2021, around 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospital emergency departments.
The Dangers of Magnetic Balls
The CPSC has reported seven deaths involving the ingestion of hazardous magnets, including two outside the United States.
The magnetic ball sets are considered non-compliant with mandatory federal magnet regulations because they contain magnets that fit within the CPSC's small parts cylinder and are stronger than permitted.
Swallowing these high-powered magnets poses a significant danger as they can attract each other or other metal objects inside the digestive system, leading to severe medical complications such as perforations, twisting/blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning, and even death.
Manufacturing and Refund Information
The magnetic balls were manufactured in China, and the recall number is 24-071. Customers who purchased the product are eligible for a refund. For more information, consumers can contact Joybuy Marketplace Express at 302-426-4543, email oversea-service@jd.com, or visit walmart.com/seller/16214.
