Health Canada orders Nano Magnetics Ltd. to recall magnet sets

Electroplated Nanodots, Coated Colors Nanodots and Mega Nanodots magnetic sets

Product description

The present recall involves small powerful magnetic balls that can be used to build sculptures, puzzles, patterns, or shapes including any of the following brands:

Hazard identified

Health Canada has ordered Nano Magnetics Ltd. to recall these products from the market.

The risk assessment on these magnet sets has informed Health Canada's determination that they are a danger to human health and safety because they contain small powerful magnets which can be easily swallowed or inhaled by children. Unlike other small objects that would be more likely to pass normally through the digestive system if swallowed, when more than one small powerful magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract one another while travelling through the digestive system. The magnets can then pinch together and create a blockage and slowly tear through the intestinal walls, causing perforations.

The results of swallowing small powerful magnets can be very serious and life-threatening. Swallowing incidents have often resulted in considerable damage to the gastrointestinal tissues and required emergency surgical treatment. For survivors, there can be serious long-term health consequences.

For more information on the danger of swallowing magnets, please see Magnets.

Number sold

Approximately 190,000 units of the affected products were sold in Canada.

Time period sold

The recalled products were sold from July 2010 to July 2013.

Place of origin

Manufactured in China.

Companies

Manufacturer

Nano Magnetics Inc.

Vaughan

CANADA

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