Overstock Recalls Buckyballs High-Powered Magnet Sets Due to Ingestion Hazards
Overstock.com is recalling Buckyballs high-powered magnet sets because swallowed magnets can link inside intestines, causing serious injury or death.
What this means for you
Highest-severity recall. Risk of serious injury or death is documented or strongly suspected. Stop using the product now and follow the agency's instructions.
Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the hazard can cause death and notes that CPSC received 53 reports of medical intervention, meeting the criteria for a Critical severity score.
Plain-English summary
Overstock.com is recalling Buckyballs high-powered magnet sets sold nationwide from November 2010 through July 2012. The sets contain 216 silver-colored, spherical rare earth magnets, each about five millimeters in diameter. The product was manufactured in China by Maxfield & Oberton LLC and sold for about $20.
The recall is due to ingestion hazards. When two or more magnets are swallowed, they can link together inside a child's intestines and clamp onto body tissues. This can cause intestinal obstructions, perforations, sepsis, and death. CPSC has received 54 reports of incidents involving children ingesting high-powered magnets, resulting in 53 reports of medical intervention. Overstock has not received reports of injuries.
Consumers should stop using the recalled high-powered magnet sets immediately and take all associated individual magnets away from children and teenagers. Overstock.com will contact each purchasing customer directly to coordinate the recall and provide a full refund. Consumers can also contact Overstock.com at [email protected] or online at www.overstock.com for more information.
The recalled product
- Product
- Buckyballs high-powered magnet sets
- Manufacturer
- Maxfield & Oberton LLC
- Affected units
- 539
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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