Toy Recall: Magnetix Magnet Building Sets by RoseArt

At least two kids in the Pacific Northwest have died after ingesting these magnets. We have these, but I'll be throwing them away.

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I have a personal issue with Roseart anyway-- I've recieved their play-dough as a gift a couple times and invariably after one use the consistency becomes extrememly sticky and the dye leaches out. Not surprised to find they've cut dangerous corners with their other products . . .

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For a middle school math teacher, these magnets make wonderful models of the figures being studied. Since the students are older, ingestion should not be a problem. Why not donate all your magnetix sets to your nearest middle or high school. I know I would appreciate receiving them. You could get a tax deduction, the school would get a wonderful math manipulative, and young children would not be at risk.......

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Yes, one child died and about four more were injured in the Pacific Northwest, from swallowing or inhaling multiple tiny magnets from Magnetix-brand toys. Also affected were over two dozen kids from across the country. Pictures and more information on this can be found at my blog site. Be sure to spread the word and tell your friends about the risks of these toys.

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The word needs to get out so that Roseart, the maker of Magnetix, will be forced to do the right thing by comsumers.

There is a 'small parts choking hazard' for children 3 and under on the box, but no other warnings. The recommended age for this product listed on the label is 6-100. I have not heard of any choking deaths from magnetix, but there have been several serious injuries (in children as old as 8!)and at least one death from the swallowing (ingestion) of the magnets. There has also been one serious injury, requiring surgery, from inhaling two of the magnets.

My son was seriously injured last month, when he swallowed two of the magnets, resulting in a bowel obstruction, which put him in critical condition and required him to have surgery.

I met with the investigator from the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) sent to investigate my complaint. A recent press release from this agency looked like a recall had occured, however, the Magnetix ‘recall’ is NOT a true recall.

Apparently, Roseart has implemented a voluntary replacement program. If a comsumer wants to exchange the toy, Roseart will give them a free replacement toy with parts too big to be swallowed. Other than an obscure icon on Roseart's website linking parents to this information, Roseart is not advertising - either via the media or in the stores about this program or the dangers of the toy. It's up to the public to figure it out and contact the company.

Roseart was notified in early Novermber of 2005 about a child's bowel injury/surgery from swallowing the magnets. Roseart did NOTHING to change the warning on the label or to warn the public - even after another boy died from the same type of injury on Thankgsgiving Day later that month!

Roseart KNEW of this danger and did NOTHING to protect children. They just sat there and sold as much as they could for Christmas - and they are still selling! Then, in an interview, Roseart LIED when they said they had no knowledge of any other injuries or deaths prior to the 2-year-old’s death on Thanksgiving day.

Dangerous Magneitx sets are STILL on the store shelves with inadequate warning labels.

Magnetix is a popular toy and big money maker. How many kids are going to have to die or be seriously injured before the toy gets recalled!?

If your child has been injured, at least make the CPSC aware of it by making a report on-line or by mail (see their website www.cpsc.gov ). You don't have to take any legal action, but do report the incident. You can even choose to have your name kept private. The number of incidents reported affects the action the CPSC can take against the manufacturer. You can also use this website to check for recalled products.

There are several lawsuits nationwide in different stages of the process, but publicity that puts pressure on Roseart from any source will help.

PLEASE, email/tell everyone you know - whether they have kids or not - about the dangers of Magnetix and about Roseart's apparent lack of concern for our children. They are profitting off of us, at the expense of our children's safety.

Contact your local TV stations and ask why they are not reporting on this danger to children, and on Roseart's lack of integrity.

Contact the managers of the stores that carry Magnetix. Contact the main offices of the corporations. Ask them why they are still selling this dangerous toy. Remind them that even though there hasn't been a mandatory recall, the store can be sued right along with the manufacturer for injuries and deaths resulting from products they sell, so taking Magnetix off the shelves would be in the store's best interest - not to mention children's best interest.

Get the word out any way you can.

Believe it or not, it is actually less costly for big corporations to just keep selling the toy and use a portion of the profit to keep the victims tied up in the court with endless, costly legal battles. Bad publicity is the only way to make it less expensive for Roseart to do right by the victims than to keep on selling its dangerous products to our kids.

Mom of a Magnetix victim in Houston, TX

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In my comment 4. above I forgot to give out my website:

http://spaces.msn.com/magnetscankill

Here you can read new information about the dangers of toys with magnets, including far too many incidents relating specifically to the "Magnetix" line marketed by Roseart.

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