Magnetic ball set recalls announced amid consumer watchdog warning

Magnetic ball set recalls overview: 

• Who: Xpress recalled about 728 of its Neodymium Magnetic Balls sets, while Joybuy recalled around 4,240 of its Relax 5mm Science Kit, Large Hematite Magnets Magnetic Stones Building Blocks. 
• Why: The recalls were initiated over concerns the magnetic balls fail to comply with the mandatory federal magnet regulation due to their size and strength and that they could become lodged in a user’s digestive system if they are swallowed. 
• Where: The recalls affect consumers nationwide.

A pair of magnetic ball product recalls have been initiated over concerns the toys fail to comply with the mandatory federal magnet regulation due to their size and strength, following a warning by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The concern, in the case of both recalls, is the recalled magnetic balls could become lodged in a user’s digestive system in the event the magnetized balls were to be swallowed. 

“When high-powered magnets are swallowed, the ingested magnets can attract each other, or another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system,” the magnetic ball recalls state.

While no injuries have been reported in connection with the recalls, the CPSC estimates that 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospital emergency rooms from 2017 through 2021, and that seven deaths have occurred, including two outside the U.S. 

The agency issued a warning to consumers last month to stop using five different varieties of magnetic ball products over concerns they failed to abide by federal toy safety standards and could pose an ingestion hazard. 

Recalls involve products sold by XpressGoods and through Joybuy on Walmart.com 

The recalls involve Colorful Metal Neodymium Magic Magnetic Balls sold by XpressGoods and high-powered magnetic balls sold exclusively at Walmart.com through Joybuy Marketplace Express.  

XpressGoods recalled around 728 of its Neodymium Magnetic Balls sets, with the item sold in a clear plastic case within a tin storage box, according to the recall. 

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled magnetic balls and to take them away from children and contact XpressGoods directly to receive a prepaid label they can use to return the product for either a full refund or store credit. 

The recalled XpressGoods magnetic balls were sold on the company’s website from July 2021 through May 2022 for around $30, according to the recall. 

The recalled magnetic balls sold exclusively on Walmart.com through Joybuy, meanwhile, include about 4,240 Relax 5mm Science Kit, Large Hematite Magnets Magnetic Stones Building Blocks sold in a clear plastic case within a tin storage box. 

Consumers are similarly advised to immediately stop using the product and to contact Joybuy to receive a pre-paid label to return the recalled magnetic balls — which were sold from February 2022 through April 2023 for between $14 and $15 — to receive a full refund. 

Millions of high-powered magnets were previously recalled in 2021 over concerns the magnets were dangerous to children, after two kids required surgery after ingesting the toy. 

Are you affected by the magnetic ball set recalls? Let us know in the comments.

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