NEW YORK — The Consumer Product and Safety Commission is warning people to immediately dispose of a magnetic game because it poses serious ingestion risks for children.
The CPSC posted a warning Thursday that “Magnetic Chess Games” sold by China-based seller JOMO contain magnets that do not comply with U.S. federal safety regulations. As a result, the “loose, hazardous magnets pose a risk of serious injury or death,” according to the warning.
The CPSC said it issued a violation notice to JOMO, but that the company has not agreed to recall its Magnetic Chess Games or provide a remedy. The commission urged people to stop using the game and throw it away immediately.
The games were sold online at walmart.com in a blue box with the word “Magnetic” on the front and back, according to the CPSC. They include about 20 loose black magnets but not chess-shaped pieces, despite its marketing.
It’s unclear when or how long these games were sold. A CPSC spokesperson said the commission could not provide further information since JOMO is not cooperating.
Experts have long noted the serious health hazards tied to swallowing magnets, with children particularly at risk. When high-powered magnets are ingested, the CPSC noted, they can attract each other or another metal object in the body and become lodged in the digestive system — potentially resulting in blockage, infection, blood poisoning or death.
Overall, the CPSC estimates that a total of 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospitals annually between 2017 and 2021. The commission said it is aware of eight related deaths from 2005 through 2021, two of which were outside the U.S.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a warning advising consumers to discontinue the use of magnetic games due to safety concerns. These popular toys, which often contain small magnetic pieces that can be easily swallowed, pose a serious risk of injury or even death if ingested.
The CPSC has received numerous reports of children swallowing the small magnetic pieces found in these games, leading to serious health complications. When multiple magnets are ingested, they can attract each other through the walls of the intestines, causing blockages, perforations, and other life-threatening injuries.
In one tragic case, a young child required emergency surgery after ingesting several magnetic pieces from a popular magnetic building set. The child suffered severe internal injuries and faced a long and painful recovery process.
To prevent further incidents like this, the CPSC is urging consumers to immediately stop using magnetic games and toys that contain small magnets. Parents should carefully inspect their children’s toys and remove any magnetic pieces that could pose a risk of ingestion.
In addition to the immediate safety concerns, the CPSC is also working with manufacturers to improve the design and labeling of magnetic games to reduce the risk of accidental ingestion. They are encouraging companies to use stronger warnings on packaging and to consider alternative designs that do not rely on small magnets.
Consumers who have purchased magnetic games are advised to contact the manufacturer for information on returning or exchanging the product. In the meantime, parents should store any magnetic toys out of reach of young children and supervise playtime to prevent accidental ingestion.
By taking these precautions and heeding the warning from the CPSC, consumers can help prevent serious injuries and protect their children from the dangers posed by magnetic games. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to toy safety, especially when it involves small magnets that can easily be swallowed.
