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Overstock.com Recalls High-Powered Magnet Sets Due to Ingestion Hazards

  • Buckyballs high-powered magnet set
Name of Product:
Buckyballs<strong> </strong>high-powered magnet sets
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.

Remedy:
Refund
Recall Date:
April 15, 2013
Units:
539
Consumer Contact

Overstock.com Inc. at e-mail miscellaneous@overstock.com or online at www.overstock.com for more information.

Recall Details

Description:

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.

Remedy:

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.  

Incidents/Injuries:

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. 

Sold At:
Overstock.com and retailers nationwide from November 2010 through July 2012 for about $20.
Importer:

Maxfield & Oberton LLC

Importer

Maxfield & Oberton LLC

Manufactured In:
China
Recall number:
13-731

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About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.

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