10 million magnets recalled after a child’s death and children’s bowel surgeries

Zen Magnets and Neoballs Magnets are recalling about 10 million magnets, sold individually and in magnet sets.

When two or more high-powered magnets are swallowed, either accidentally or intentionally, 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.

Zen Magnets is aware of two children who ingested Zen Magnets and required surgery to remove the magnets and parts of their intestines and bowels. In addition, CPSC is aware of other reports of children and teenagers ingesting high-powered magnets and requiring surgery. A 19-month-girl died after ingesting similar high-powered magnets. 

This mandatory recall involves all Zen Magnets and Neoballs magnets.  Zen Magnets and Neoballs are high-powered 5 mm spherical magnets. 

Zen Magnets were sold individually and in sets of 72, 216 with 6 spares, and 1,728 with 8 spares. 

Neoballs were sold individually and in sets in the following colors: silver, gold, red, orange, green, red, blue, and purple. “Zen Magnets” or “Neoballs” is printed on the packaging.

Online at Neoballs.com and ZenMagnets.com and certain Colorado retailers listed below beginning in January 2009 for between $12 and $264 per set, or individually for 6 to 10 cents per magnet:

Colorado Retailers of Zen Magnets

Botanico, 3054 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80205

Chronic Life, 12 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80219

The Glass Hut, 1350 South Sheridan Blvd. #9, Denver, CO 80232

The Hemp Center – Colorado Springs, 2501 West Colorado Ave. #106, Colorado Springs, CO 80904

The Hemp Center – Littleton, 2430 West Main St., Littleton, CO 80120

Herbal Alternatives: New Broadsterdam, 2568 South Broadway, Denver, CO 80210

Herbal Dazed, 6525 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80221

Hobby Town – Aurora, 1915 South Havana St., Aurora, CO 80014

Hobby Town – Lakewood, 3355 South Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80227

Lightshade on Holly, 3950 North Holly St., Denver, CO 80207

Lyon’s Finest 2, 11080 East 47th Ave., Denver, CO 80239

Meadowlark 64, 2701 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80205

MK Vapor, 10273 East Iliff Ave., Aurora, CO 80247

Nimbus Smoke Stop, 2960 South Federal Blvd. #7, Denver, CO 80236

Octpipe, 5303 Leetsdale Dr., Denver, CO 80246

Science Toy Magic, 11 Old Town Sq., Fort Collins, CO 80524

Secret Stashh Gifts, 3655 Brighton Blvd., Denver, CO 80216

Soldis, Colorado Mills Mall, Lakewood, CO 80401

Vaper Jungle, 7033 East Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80220

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled magnets and contact Zen Magnets for a refund, the Consumer Product Safety Commission advises.

This is a mandatory recall by the CPSC. Most recalls are done voluntarily with the company and CPSC working together to get dangerous products out of consumers’ hands. Because Zen didn’t agree to a voluntary recall, CPSC sued the company for the mandatory recall. 

For more information, call Zen Magnets LLC at 844-936-6245 or email [email protected].