• Accidental swallowing of magnets or batteries is a growing problem among children - parents should be aware of this risk.
• Pay attention to what your toddler is playing with, select toys that are appropriate for their age, and watch out for those toys that might be used otherwise than intended.
• Following reports of consumer accidents with magnetic balls, the UOKiK is urging consumers to follow safety precautions.

Small children may swallow small objects within the reach of their hands - blocks, coins, screws, rings, batteries or magnets. Most foreign bodies that little kids can swallow usually pass through their digestive system without causing any sickness or any internal injuries. However, magnets are particularly dangerous in this context. When a child ingests several magnetic items, they can attract each other and cause severe inflammation, intestinal rupture (known as perforation), and even lead to death.

- The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection receives signals of accidents of this type in which children aged 2 to 5 were injured. Magnetic balls are used for playing, due to their appearance and shape the children find them very appealing. Kids test them out of curiosity, e.g. in the ear or nose, or even worse, in the mouth. This could end in tragedy. We take steps to eliminate and recall life-threatening products from the market. However, we must be particularly vigilant about the safety of children, therefore we urge the public to be extra cautious and, ideally, to eliminate any items from children’s toys that may pose a particular threat to the health and lives of the youngest consumers - Tomasz Chróstny, the President of UOKiK, stresses.

For a child who has swallowed such items, abdominal pain alone is an indication to see if something is wrong and even seek medical assistance. Other symptoms may also occur, i.e. fever or vomiting. Following a number of studies and analyses, a clear conclusion was drawn - only magnets with a low magnetic flux ratio (i.e. mutual attraction force) are safe for children. The limit value of this ratio is 50 kG²mm² (0.5 T²mm²) and has been defined in the safety standard for toys. Any value exceeding this level represents a potential risk to the child.

The test of magnetic spheres led by the Provincial Trade Inspection Authority in Kraków showed that they exceed the standards even five times (the magnetic flux ratio in the tested balls was 2.6 T²mm² and more). Apart from VTIA in Kraków, inspections are carried out by VTIA in Łódź, Warsaw and Wrocław. We will soon inform you of the results of the inspection. Non-compliant magnetic balls shall be recalled from the market by traders. If the entrepreneur fails to properly recall the product, the President of UOKiK shall intervene to ensure that hazardous products are eliminated from the market.

In most accidents involving balls, their cause is the ingestion of magnetic balls. These factors can spark a tragedy.

- No prohibition or order will replace common sense and imagination of a child’s guardian. We should always remember to apply the principle of limited trust towards a small child, and select toys according to their age and stage of development. You should read labels and the warnings and information they contain; even toys that are particularly appealing to children should be secured if they pose a risk to their health or life – President of UOKiK Tomasz Chróstny reminds.

Irregularities related to improper labelling of products or toys with dubious design should be reported to the Trade Inspection Authority.

Consumer support:

Phone: +48 801 440 220 or +48 22 290 89 16 – consumer helpline
Email: porady@dlakonsumentow.pl
Consumer advocates – in your town or district
Trade Inspection Authority – in your province

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL