Overstock.com Recalls High-Powered Magnet Sets Due to Ingestion Hazards
Gear & electronicsIngestionMagnets
The hazard
When two or more magnets are swallowed, they can link together inside a child's intestines and clamp onto body tissues, causing intestinal obstructions, perforations, sepsis and death. Internal injury from magnets can pose serious lifelong health effects.
Incidents reported: Overstock has received no reports of injuries. CPSC has received 54 reports of incidents involving children ingesting high-powered magnets resulting in 53 reports of medical intervention.
What to do now
Overstock.com will contact each purchasing customer directly to coordinate the recall. Consumers should stop using the recalled high-powered magnet sets immediately, take all associated individual magnets away from children and teenagers, and contact Overstock.com for a full refund.
Contact: Overstock.com Inc. at e-mail miscellaneous@overstock.com or online at www.overstock.com for more information.
About this recall
This recall involves high-powered magnets sets with the brand name Buckyballs. The sets contain 216 silver-colored, spherical rare earth magnets, each about five millimeters in diameter.
Product photos
Photos: U.S. CPSC