High powered magnet sets recalled

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WASHINGTON, April 15 (UPI) -- Two U.S. retailers are recalling high-powered Buckyballs magnet sets due to the chance of children swallowing magnets, a federal watchdog agency said.

Swallowing one or more of the magnets can cause serous injury or death, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement. The agency said it had received numerous reports of children ingesting magnets, including 53 cases that required medical intervention.

The product includes 216 spherical, silver-colored rare-earth magnets, each small enough to be swallowed by a child. They were sold under the brand name Buckyballs, the agency said.

They were imported from China and sold from by Toys R Us from November 2010 through July 2012 for about $40. Overstock.com, which is also recalling the magnet sets, sold them for about $20, the agency said.

Consumers were advised to take the magnets away from children and contact Toys R Us or Overstock.com for a full refund.

Toys R Us is recalling 60 sets of magnets. Overstock.com is recalling 539 sets.

Consumers can call Toys R Us at 800-869-7787 for information.

Overstock.com can be reached by email at miscellaneous@overstock.com or at their Web site.