PlayMaty Recalls Magnetic Building Block Sets — recall 57550

Reported risk: PlayMaty is voluntarily recalling these products from the market in response to Health Canada's product testing. Testing shows that these sets contain small powerful magnets which can be 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 . As of October 31, the company has received no reports of incidents in Canada, and no reports of injuries.