Parents should be careful when buying this toy! Many children have intestinal perforations due to it!

In recent years, various magnetic toys such as magnetic beads and magnetic mud have been hot-selling. They are loved by children because of their strong plasticity and uniqueness. Many adults also like it and use it as a tool to relieve stress.

But in fact, for children, this kind of toys are very dangerous...

1. Magnetic beads Magnetic beads, also called "bucky balls", are generally made of "neodymium magnets", also known as "neodymium iron boron magnets", and are positioned as construction toys.

Neodymium magnets are the strongest permanent magnets among all types of magnets. This bead-shaped magnetic toy has a strong magnetic force in a single sphere, can be combined into various shapes at will, and has a beautiful appearance. It is an ideal magnetic educational development product.

The animated picture comes from the Internet

We don’t know whether it can really greatly enhance children’s imagination and hands-on ability. However, according to the statistics of Zhejiang Provincial Quality and Safety Institute from the end of 2019 to the beginning of 2020, there were 12 reports about magnetic beads. All of them were news about children accidentally eating them and causing intestinal perforation, without exception.

my country's national toy standard GB 6675.2-2014 has made very detailed provisions for magnetic toys. It requires that children under the age of 14 should avoid using "dangerous magnets" when playing with them. It refers to magnets with strong enough magnetic force (magnetic flux index>50kG²mm²) and can be placed in small parts barrels.

"Dangerous magnets" in toys can be easily swallowed by children, and have strong enough magnetic force to easily cause the magnetic components to interact with each other in the intestines and cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract.

The diameter of each magnetic bead is generally 3mm-5mm, which can be easily put into the small parts tester. This means that if a child accidentally swallows the magnetic beads, they will not get stuck in the throat, but will directly enter the intestinal digestive system.

Screenshot of a product details page

If more than 2 beads are ingested by mistake, the magnetic beads will adhere to each other in the digestive system, which will create pressure on the gastrointestinal wall and cause gastrointestinal perforation or intestinal obstruction. They can only be removed by surgery, and in severe cases, it may even threaten life safety.

GB 6675.2 also specifically points out that "accidental ingestion may lead to misdiagnosis and easily delay the disease", which shows the high risk of accidental ingestion.

Not only are there requirements for "small parts", these magnetic beads are generally very magnetic, and some have a magnetic field strength of several kG (kilo gauss), which can easily exceed the standard requirement of 50kG²mm².

In the eyes of laboratory inspectors, if these products are all labeled as magnetic toys, it is very likely that they are all unqualified products.

Screenshot of a product details page

It is worth noting that the standard gives special requirements for magnetic/electric performance experimental devices used by children over 8 years old.

It is allowed to have "dangerous magnets" in such products, but warning statements such as "Warning! This product contains small magnets and is not suitable for children under 8 years old. If swallowed, the magnets will be attracted through the intestinal wall and cause serious harm. If a magnet is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately."

That is to say, as long as the safety regulations of toy products are met, it is not impossible to use magnets or magnetic components in toys. So what is the reason for so many tragedies?

When we bought samples, we checked the product descriptions in many online stores. Most merchants have a note on the product details page that "this product is not suitable for children under 14 years old."

Screenshot of a product details page

Although there are warning signs, contradictory misleading product descriptions are found on the same page. In order to increase traffic, such products can be found under categories such as "educational building blocks", "building blocks", "magnetic pieces", "metal toys", "logic training", and "construction toys".

Screenshot of a product details page

In fact, there is no ban on this type of spherical magnet products in children's toys for children aged 3 to 14, and many traditional construction toys also use some magnets to increase the fun.

However, as the magnetic beads on the market become smaller and smaller, the magnetic force becomes stronger and stronger, and the number increases, the potential danger becomes greater. Judging from the actual casualties, this type of strong magnetic "Buck Ball" product is indeed not suitable for young children.

2. Magnetic mud is the same as magnetic beads. In fact, this type of product can be considered as a stress-relieving toy for adults, but many parents still buy it for their children.

Screenshot of a product details page

The Shanghai Municipal Market Supervision Bureau recently sampled 19 batches of magnetic mud and found that all 19 batches of samples had quality and safety risks.

The sampling results showed that the magnetic flux test results of the magnets in the "magnetic mud" ranged from 886.9 to 1725.3 kG²mm², which was 17 to 35 times the standard requirements, all exceeding the standards.

Among them, 11 batches of "magnetic mud" products failed the small parts test. This means that if children under 3 years old accidentally eat it, the magnetic mud will directly enter the digestive system.

The animated picture comes from the Internet

The "mud" in the "magnetic mud" product is iron powder rubber, which is non-magnetic in itself but can be magnetized. The source of the magnetic force is the neodymium magnet, which is the same type of magnet as the bucky ball introduced above.

If this product is defined as a toy and sold, then this neodymium magnet will cross the red line of safety regulations. Not only will the magnetic flux index exceed 50kG²mm², but it will also be basically all "small parts".

In addition, there is the issue of boron content.

Because it is a clay toy, just like crystal mud and super light clay, it is inevitable to add borax in order to improve its extensibility and softness.

The Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation sampled 19 batches of magnetic mud products and found boron in all of them, ranging from 74.4 to 3039 mg/kg. Among them, 17 batches exceeded 300 mg/kg, which did not meet EU standards.

The harm of boron is self-evident.

Dad’s review suggestion★ Magnetic toys are generally not suitable for very young children, such as those under 6 or 8 years old.

★ If your child really has to play, parents are requested to accompany him/her and supervise him/her at all times. The child should remember to wash hands after playing.

★ Always remind your children and educate them that this toy cannot be eaten! If it is accidentally ingested, please seek medical attention immediately.

★ If parents are not around, please place such toys out of the reach of children.

I hope that merchants can make honest product notes, and that consumers can develop the habit of reading the small print on the packaging. I hope this tragedy will end here and never happen again...