New Recall Issued for Magnetix Magnetic Building Set

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a new warning yesterday about the award-winning toy, Magnetix. This is the second time that the product has been flagged in the last two years. In March of 2006, MEGA Brands, Inc. announced a recall of the product for children under the age of six.

The toy set, which is made in China, was found to be faulty after some of the magnetic balls in the pieces came out. One death and multiple intestinal injuries resulted from the defect. The latest recall removes the age restriction and repeats the offer to replace any product that parents feel is unsafe.

Immediately upon the news of the first recall, warnings of the dangers occurring if children ingest the pieces were issued. Included in the information was the risk for potential blockage if two or more magnets were to be swallowed and unite. In 2006, twenty-six cases resulted in emergency surgeries after children who swallowed the dislodged pieces experienced intestinal problems. Also of concern to parents are the materials that make up the parts. The manufacturer claims that they are made form steel and zinc. Zinc, if consumed in high levels at once, can cause flu-like symptoms. The most are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

MEGA Brands, Inc. settled several lawsuits and other claims in 2006 at a cost of $13.5 million. When the year-end financial statement was released, the company noted that there were two pending lawsuits being handled by their insurer because the children were still receiving medical care. Settlement of the cases could not be speculated upon at the time; therefore, the company did not issue estimates of dollar figures to be paid out for the cases.

After the initial announcement, engineers revised the toy and the company updated the packaging to include a warning label. Not all sets were replaced by consumers after the initial recall, though. In addition, a new claim brings WalMart into legal system by alleging that the retailer ignored the recall and continued to sell defective products through the end of 2006. The family that brought the case against Wal-Mart claims the toys were purchased as gifts after March 2006 and did not contain the updated package design. After one of their children became ill and needed emergency surgery, doctors discovered pieces of the recalled toy in the boy's stomach.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a new warning on April 19, 2007 after reports of additional injuries from the product surfaced. Company officials point out that sets containing the new warning label, manufactured after March 2006, are not included in the current recall.

To learn more about the replacement program, consumers can call 1-800-779-7122 or visit www.megabrands.com.