More magnetic toys recalled

Dubai: US firm Mattel, the world's largest toymaker, has recalled four magnetic toys sold in the GCC over fears that their magnet parts can come loose and be swallowed by children.

The four items, which were sold in the GCC prior to January 2007, include two Polly Pocket toys, one Batman toy and an accessory part of a Barbie toy.

An official told Gulf News that around 1,200 of these items have been sold in the GCC. So far no injuries have resulted, the official said.

The announcement is the second recall of Mattel toys in the last two weeks. Earlier this month Mattel's Fisher-Price unit recalled about 1.5 million preschool toys made by a China-based contract manufacturer because the paint on the toys might contain excessive amounts of lead.

Of these items, four toys featuring various Sesame Street characters were sold "in limited quantities" in the GCC. No injuries have been reported.

Medical problems

The new recall affects 18.2 million magnetic toys worldwide - more than half of which were sold in the US. Mattel said the magnets can come loose and be swallowed, breathed in or placed by a child in their nose or ears, possibly leading to internal medical problems.

If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal, warns the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Ahmad Al Amadi, ENT specialist at the Canadian Specialist Hospital, said most small items that are swallowed and pass through the stomach cause no harm, but batteries or magnetic objects can cause chemical reactions which burn the stomach.

Items with high amounts of lead can cause vomiting and seizures or at worst affect the brain and nervous system. He advised parents to buy only reputable toy brands which are subject to strict quality controls.

In the US, Mattel's latest recall includes 7.3 million individual Polly Pocket dolls and accessories with magnets. The CPSC said there have been 400 reports of magnets coming loose since an earlier recall in November 2006 of around 2.4 million play sets. There had been reports of three children swallowing more than one magnet and suffering intestinal perforations that required surgery, it said.

Also recalled this week over magnet dangers were 1 million Doggie Day Care, 683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets, and 345,000 Batman and One Piece play sets. No injuries were reported from those items.

Products in question

Toys withdrawn over excessive lead paint

A local Mattel official said consumers should immediately take these products away from children and contact Mattel or its representatives mentioned below to arrange return and to receive a voucher/replacement toy of the consumer's choice, up to the value of the returned product.

For more information, consumers can contact the service number +971 4 2699960 for further information or log on to www.service.mattel.com