More unsafe magnetic products removed from sale following OPSS action

The weekly Unsafe Product Report published on 25 June by OPSS has identified a further four magnetic products that pose a risk to health.

If two or more magnets were swallowed the magnets could be drawn together in the digestive system potentially causing serious injury or death where rapid and immediate medical intervention was not sought.

The public is being asked to take appropriate steps to keep these products away from children. Parents or guardians should understand the signs of magnetic ingestion and act quickly to get immediate medical treatment if they believe a magnet has been swallowed.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the UK’s national product safety regulator, issued a Safety Alert in May 2021 to warn of the risk of serious injury and death where small high-powered magnets are swallowed.

This followed an OPSS awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of small, high powered magnets, in conjunction with Child Accident Prevention Trust, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

The unsafe magnetic products identified in the OPSS report are:

• Eves Hand Made Things – Allsorts Fridge Magnets: The product has been withdrawn from Etsy and recalled from end users.

• Buttonbabblegifts Novelty Food Fridge Magnets: The product has been withdrawn from Etsy.

• 168-piece Magnet Toy: The product has been withdrawn from the market by LightintheBox (UK) Limited and recalled from end users.

• 3D Magnetic Puzzle Mag Cube Bucky Balls: The product has been withdrawn from the market by LightintheBox (UK) Limited and recalled from end users.