Dangerous Toys Still for Sale By Sally Ann Connolly MASCA Counselor’s Notebook Editor An article in The Journal of Pediatrics (January 2014) describes the advocacy role played by the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition in its fight against high-powered magnets. These magnets can cause serious injury and even death if they are ingested. Gastroenterologists throughout the country responded to a physician’s query on its bulletin board in April 2013, indicating that most of the magnetic ingestions had occurred within the past year. NASPGHAN then set out on an aggressive campaign to educate pediatric gastroenterologists, other pediatric physicians, and the general public. The organization also began working to remove the hazardous toys from sale. In the process, NASPGHAN partnered with other organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Pediatric Surgical Association. The authors of the journal article conclude by saying: “One year after our society became aware of the public health implications of high powered magnets, we have helped reduce sales of these products and inform the public. However, we still have work to do. Many families remain unaware of the danger, and just recently another toddler went to surgery for fistulae at our institution following magnet ingestion. Although the CPSC works to finalize its proposed magnet safety regulations, high-powered toy magnets are still for sale on the internet. In fact, one new company is advertising these magnets as ‘do-it-yourself fashion jewelry.’ We need to continue to educate our policymakers and our patients about the hazards of high-powered magnets, or our patients will continue to suffer the consequences of their availability for years to come.” I am reprinting my reaction to discovering that toys with the possibly lethal magnets were being sold in my community. (Never Better: All Things Considered, 2007) More information is available at “Dangerous Toys Still for Sale,” www.neverbetter.net.
W
ould you shop in a store that knowingly and willingly sells toys that kill? A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts at the Liberty Tree Mall is doing just that.
This week I went shopping for gifts for my granddaughter’s fifth birthday. A.C. Moore seemed to be a good choice. Sommerlyn likes nothing better than creative projects. To my horror a whole section of the store is stocked with construction sets by Magnetix. Last year, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall, warning consumers:
“Tiny magnets inside the plastic building pieces and rods can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract to each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal. This product is unsuitable for young children. . . . [The] CPSC is aware of 34 incidents involving small magnets, including one death and four serious injuries. A 20-month-old boy died after he swallowed magnets that twisted his small intestine and created a blockage. Three children ages ranging from 3 to 8 had intestinal perforations that required surgery and hospitalization in intensive care. A 5-year-old child aspirated two magnets that were surgically removed from his lung.” Naively, I brought the recall to the attention of the store’s management. They knew all about it. “Oh, that’s an old recall,” said the assistant manager. Does that mean the same toys are less dangerous now, a year later? “That’s a voluntary recall,” she continued. Retailers, in other words, are not required to pull the dangerous items off the shelves. Rather, consumers who have bought the product are urged to stop using it and return the product to the retailer for a suitable replacement or refund. But what if the consumer did not happen to learn about the recall? Shouldn’t a warning be posted in the store near the item? Certainly, customers have a right to know that the product on the shelf is hazardous. I say to A.C. Moore and the other retailers still stocking Magnetix: Protect our children. Step up and voluntarily remove these sets from your shelves. Do not let unsuspecting parents and grandparents buy toys that will seriously harm or kill their loved ones. Do we have to wait until another child dies before you, corporate headquarters, and the manufacturer will deem a child’s life more important than a profit margin? Before stopping at A.C. Moore, I had bought a few items for Sommerlyn at a local drugstore: a pad of detachable, white paper, a pad of construction paper, glitter pens, washable makers, and stickers. She will be thrilled with these safe gifts. I am. _______________________________ Note: This letter to the editor was not accepted for publication. A revised, less accusatory letter was published. Since that time, magnetic toys have had additional recalls. In July 2007, the Consumer Product Safety Commission named magnets the number one unrecognized household danger. And in August, a major recall included toys made in China with lead paint and toys using magnets. The powerful, tiny magnets continue to be manufactured in toys and magnetic jewelry.