On August 14, 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled approximately 345,000 “Batman” and “One Piece” magnetic action figure sets because the toys pose choking and other serious health hazards if swallowed. The Batman toy recall comes during a week in which Mattel recalled 18 million toys worldwide.

If two or more magnets are swallowed, they can attract inside the body and cause intestinal perforation, infection, or blockage, all of which can be fatal. Mattel has received 21 incident reports of the magnets falling out of the toy, including a case where a 3-year-old boy held the magnet in his mouth, but did not ingest it.

The recalled Batman toys include:

• Batman Magna Battle Armor Batman with model number J1944
• Batman Magna Fight Wing Batman with model number J1946
• Batman Secret ID with model number J5114
• Batman Flying Fox with model number J511

The action figures are seven inches tall, feature the Batman logo on the front, and include magnetic accessories. The model number is located on the lower right corner of the tag, which is sewn to the figure.

The recalled One Piece toy is:

• One Piece Triple Slash Zolo Roronoa with model number J4142

This action figure is 5.5 inches tall with green hair, black pants, and magnets in his hands. Those magnets connect to magnets on various swords that the figure can hold. The model number for the One Piece figure is on the left leg.

Mattel is instructing consumers to immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact the company for a free replacement. Mattel’s toll-free phone number is 1-888-597-6597.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Release #07-269, August 14, 2007.