Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

10/24/2024 | Press release | Archived content

CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Magnetic Chess Games Due to Ingestion Hazard; Violation of the Federal Safety Regulation for Magnet Toys; Sold Exclusively on[...]

  • Share:

  • Share it on Facebook
  • Share it on Twitter
  • Copy Link
  • Print Page
  • Copy link
  • No image available
Name of Product:
Magnetic Chess Games
Hazard:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using and dispose of Magnetic Chess Games sold by Auncley. CPSC testing determined the magnets do not comply with the requirements of the mandatory federal regulation for magnet toys and pose a risk of serious injury or death if ingested by children.

Consumer Action:

CPSC urges consumers to stop using the magnetic chess games immediately, take them away from children, and dispose of them or take them to your local recycling facility. Do not sell or give away these hazardous magnetic games.

Product Safety Warning Date:
October 24, 2024

Product Safety Warning Details

Description:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using and dispose of Magnetic Chess Games sold by Auncley. CPSC testing determined the magnets do not comply with the requirements of the mandatory federal regulation for magnet toys and pose a risk of serious injury or death if ingested by children.

CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, Auncley, of China, but the firm has not agreed to recall the MagneticChess Games or offer a remedy to consumers.

When high-powered magnets are swallowed, the ingested magnets can attract to each other, or to another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning and death.

CPSC estimates 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospital emergency departments annually from 2017 through 2021. CPSC is aware of eight deaths since 2005 through 2021 involving the ingestion of hazardous magnets, including two outside of the United States.

The games were sold in a blue box with the words "Magnetic", "Magnetic Effect Chess" and "Intelligence Strategy Game" on the front and back of the box. The box may have a white sticker label with Amazon's FN SKU: X00422USLT. The game includes about 20 loose black magnets, a yellow string, a plastic drawstring storage bag, and instructions for play. Although marketed as a chess game, it does not contain chess pieces. The magnetic games were sold online at www.amazon.comfor about $10.

CPSC urges consumers to stop using the magnetic chess games immediately, take them away from children, and dispose of them or take them to your local recycling facility. Do not sell or give away these hazardous magnetic games.

Report any incidents involving injury or product defect to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

Incidents/Injuries:

CPSC estimates 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospital emergency departments annually from 2017 through 2021. CPSC is aware of eight deaths since 2005 through 2021 involving the ingestion of hazardous magnets, including two outside of the United States.

Sold Online At:
Themagnetic games were sold online atwww.amazon.com for about $10.
Seller:

Auncley, of China

Product Safety Warning Number:
25-018

Note: Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

If you experienced a safety incident with this product, report it to CPSC on SaferProducts.gov

Related Recalls

The recalled toy's gold-colored soft star can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The recalled Baby Tummy Time Gallery art card pockets have clear plastic coverings that contain levels of a phthalate that exceeds the federal phthalates ban. Phthalates are toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

The flashlight on the recalled kits violates the mandatory federal battery-operated toy regulation because the flashlights contain button cell batteries in a compartment that can be easily opened without requiring the use of a common household tool. When button cell batteries are swallowed, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns, and death, posing an ingestion hazard.

The painted long hoe and rake of the recalled garden set contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a lead poisoning hazard to children. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.

The recalled Glow in Dark Supplies Toy Sets violate the mandatory federal battery-operated toy regulation because the Bunny Ears Headbands found in the sets contain button cell batteries that can be easily accessed without requiring the use of a common household tool. When button cell batteries are swallowed, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns and death, posing an ingestion hazard to children.

The gray caps on the end of the dumbbell toy can come off, posing a choking hazard to infants.

About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.

For lifesaving information:
Choose Your Recall Emails Get Notified About Each Recall via Email.