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NEWARK
– Attorney General Zulima V. Farber
and Consumer Affairs Director Kimberly Ricketts
are alerting consumers to a voluntary recall
of all Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets sold
in New Jersey stores. The U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced
the recall on Friday following the death
of a 20-month old boy in Washington state.
State and county consumer affairs personnel
are visiting retail stores beginning today
to make sure stores that sell the Magnetix
toy sets have posted the CPSC Recall Notice
in three places; on the shelf where the
Magnetix toy sets are stocked, at the check-out
register and at the front of the store.
Under N.J.A.C. 13:45A-24.3(d), retailers
are required to display notice when "notified
by a manufacturer, a distributor or the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
of a defective or hazardous toy or other
article intended for use by children...if
the dealer has carried or normally carries
such item."
The CPSC announced the voluntary recall
of approximately 3.8 million Magnetix building
block sets distributed by Rose Art Industries
Inc. of Livingston, N.J. One 20-month old
child died and four children were seriously
injured after swallowing tiny magnets that
had separated from the plastic building
pieces, according to the product safety
commission.
"We
will be checking to make sure retailers
that carry the Magnetix sets are disclosing
the potential hazard of this product to
the public as legally required," Attorney
General Farber said.
The CPSC reported 34 incidents to date involving
the small magnets in the Magnetix sets.
A 20-month old boy died after he swallowed
magnets that twisted his small intestine
and created a blockage. Three children ages
three to eight sustained intestinal damage
that required surgery and hospitalization
in intensive care. A five-year-old aspirated
two magnets that were surgically removed
from his lung. None of these incidents occurred
in New Jersey.
"These
incidents are vivid reminders that we need
to protect our youngest and most vulnerable
residents," Consumer Affairs Director
Ricketts said. "The danger is real,
and working with retailers, we hope to prevent
further tragedies."
The CPSC Recall Notice advises that consumers
who have already purchased the magnetic
sets should stop using them immediately
and return them to Rose Art Industries for
a free replacement suitable for young children
under the age of six. For additional information,
contact Rose Art at 800-779-7122
between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through
Friday or via the company’s Web site,
www.roseart.com.
For additional information, consumers can
access the CPSC Recall Notice at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06127.html
or contact Consumer Affairs at 800-242-5846
(within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200
or via the web site at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov
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