FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2007
Release #07-085 |
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (866) 775-0265
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
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Geometix International LLC Recalls MagneBlocks™ Toys, Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of product: MagneBlocks™ Magnetic Construction Toys
Units: About 40,000 sets
Distributor: Geometix International LLC, of Brookfield, Conn.
Hazard: Tiny magnets inside the building pieces can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm is aware of one incident where a magnet became loose. No injuries have been reported.
Description: All types of MagneBlocks™ construction sets are included in this recall. The sets contain six or more plastic building pieces and six or more 1/2-inch diameter steel balls. Some sets include steel rods. The building pieces are various colors and are shaped in 1 1/2-inch cubes and three-, four-, and five-sided pyramids. The plastic building pieces have “MagneBlocks™” imprinted on them.
Sold at: Discount department and toy stores and Web sites, and other toy and arts and crafts stores nationwide. The MagneBlocks™ magnetic building sets were sold from January 2004 through November 2006 for between $20 and $120, depending on the size of the set. Sets currently for sale have improved warning labels.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: CPSC recommends children under 6 years of age not play with toys containing magnets. If a magnet comes out of one of the blocks in these sets, immediately remove the block from the set and send it to Geometix International for a free replacement block.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Geometix International at (866) 775-0265 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit Geometix International’s Web site at www.magneblocks.com
Spanish Version
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.