On July 5, 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of approximately 800 Mag Stix Magnetic Building Sets because the small magnets inside the plastic sticks can fall out, posing a serious, life-threatening risk to children. If more than one of the magnets is swallowed, they can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage.

The CPSC received a report of an 8-year-old girl who swallowed the magnets and was subsequently hospitalized after extensive surgery to remove the magnets and repair intestinal perforations.

The recalled Mag Stix Magnetic Building Sets contain 24 pieces, including 12 1-inch sticks, four 2.25-inch sticks and eight metal balls. They are green, yellow, blue, and rust colored. The packaging contains the phrase “Item No. 40330 Made in China” and UPC No. 7 7704 40330 1. The recalled Kipp Brothers toys were sold in the company’s showroom and its Fall 2005 catalog, and from September 2005 through March 2006 for approximately $3.

The product was produced in China, adding to the growing number of dangerous products coming from the country. According to an article in The New York Times on June 19, 2007, China is responsible for about 60 percent of all product recalls. In 2000 that figure was 36 percent. The article also said the CPSC recalled 467 products a year ago. China produces between 70 and 80 percent of the toys sold in the United States, according to The Times.

“These are items that children are supposed to be playing with,” said Prescott Carlson, co-founder of a Web site that helps track recalls of toys and baby products. “It should be a point where companies in the United States that are importing these items are held liable.”

Sources: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Release #07-231 , July 5, 2007;Eric S. Lipton and David Barboza, “As More Toys Are Recalled, Trail Ends in China,” New York Times, June 19, 2007.