Product Recall: 350 Pieces Magnetic Building Block Set Due to Risk of Choking and Internal Injuries

Magnetic Block magnets AliExpress Office for Product Safety and Standards OPSS Sarah Cole M.D. Nancy Cowles

By Camille Hutchison , Parent Herald Oct 27, 04:03 am

The Office for Product Safety and Standards or the OPSS recalls unbranded products that can be via AliExpress as the product presents a high risk of choking and other internal injuries because of the presence of small parts received as some of which have an excessively high magnetic flux level, per Gov.UK.

OPSS now requires the recall of the product from end users. Further, the listing has been ousted by the said online marketplace. The national regulator for all consumer products notes that a toddler may put small parts in its mouth and the parents or guardians may not notice in time, allowing the small part to eventually block the young child's airways. Moreover, the magnets present in the product were found to have higher magnetic flux than the maximum allowed amount by the relevant standard. Such magnetic products can be easily swallowed and when ingested, they can have the potential to cause serious internal injuries only within the gastrointestinal tract or GI tract.

Also, the product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.

Can pinch the digestive tract causing major swelling

Magnetic toys are primarily designed for kids to provide entertainment and an educational experience. However, such type of game can somehow lose magnets and high-powered magnets can severely injure one. Moreover, high-powered magnets appear to be more powerful than any other types of magnets as they are strong and are used in technology like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, including common household appliances such as vacuum cleaners and washing machines.

Toy blocks are also ideal for a young child to hone their motor skills. While developing their building techniques, they move around using their huge muscles. Moreover, they also use smaller movements to connect the magnetic pieces which actually strengthens both eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills.

Sarah Cole, M.D., Avera Medical Group pediatric gastroenterology specialist says that if a young child swallowed more than one magnet, the swallowed magnets can attract each other through the walls of the intestines, get stuck, and eventually pinch the digestive tract causing major swelling and even life-threatening injuries that would require immediate surgery, First 4 Magnets reported.

The dangers of magnetic building block

Magnetic blocks are open-ended construction toys that help to establish children's creativity as they come in many-piece sets. The pieces are also made from high-grade acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) plastic and come in different shapes. Further, the pieces come magnetically together which allows kids to create different and various connections.

Although, these types of toys can be fun. Little did parents know that these also come with various dangers including choking hazards. Relatively, it can also cause blood blisters and cuts.

Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids In Danger, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve kid's product safety told Consumer Reports that magnets are indeed a hazard parents may not be aware of as many magnets appears to be tiny which means, parents may not be able to tell if their child has put magnets in his mouth.