MagneBlocks™ Magnetic Construction Toys
CPSC Recall #07-085 — January 17, 2007
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 07-085 |
| Recall Date | January 17, 2007 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 40,000 sets |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| 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. |
Product
MagneBlocks™ Magnetic Construction Toys
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Geometix International LLC, of Brookfield, Conn., is voluntarily recalling about 40,000 sets MagneBlocks Magnetic Construction Toys. 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.Name of product: MagneBlocks™ Magnetic Construction ToysUnits: About 40,000 setsDistributor: 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: ChinaRemedy: 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.
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.
Remedy Instructions
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.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace) at no cost to you.
Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.