Gander Wholesales recalls Magnetic Putty
- Starting date:
- May 2, 2018
- Posting date:
- May 2, 2018
- Type of communication:
- Consumer Product Recall
- Subcategory:
- Household Items, Toys
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Physical Hazard
- Audience:
- General Public
- Identification number:
- RA-66686
Affected products
Magnetic Putty
Product description
This recall involves Magnetic Putty in various colors sold at Gander Wholesales. The product is packaged in a round metal container which contains magnetic putty a solid magnetic component and four non-magnetic googly eyes.
The product can be identified by UPC 00152778.
Hazard identified
Gander Wholesales is voluntarily recalling these products from the market due to toxicity hazards associated with high levels of arsenic, and the presence of a small powerful magnet.
The recall of this product is in response to laboratory testing and a previous risk assessment conducted by Health Canada on small powerful magnets.
Arsenic is toxic and exposure to it is harmful for human health and can cause developmental neurotoxicity.
The risk assessment on magnet sets has informed Health Canada's determination that they are a danger to human health and safety because they contain small powerful magnets which can be easily swallowed or inhaled by children. Unlike other small objects that would be more likely to pass normally through the digestive system if swallowed, when more than one small powerful magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract one another while travelling through the digestive system. The magnets can then pinch together and create a blockage and slowly tear through the intestinal walls, causing perforations.
The results of swallowing small powerful magnets can be very serious and life-threatening. Swallowing incidents have often resulted in considerable damage to the gastrointestinal tissues and required emergency surgical treatment. For survivors, there can be serious long-term health consequences.
For more information on the danger or swallowing magnets, please see Magnets.
As of April 26, 2018, the company has received no reports of incidents in Canada, and no reports of injuries.
Number sold
Approximately 1160 units of the affected products were sold in Canada.
Time period sold
The product was sold at Gander Wholesales from November 2017 to March 2018.
Place of origin
Manufactured in China.
Companies
- Importer
-
Gander Wholesales
Gander
Newfoundland and Labrador
CANADA
What you should do
Consumers should stop using the recalled product immediately and contact Gander Wholesales with proof of purchase to receive a full refund.
For more information, consumers may contact Gander Wholesales at 1-709-256-2121 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. NST Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. NST on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. NST on Sunday.
Please note that the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act prohibits recalled products from being redistributed, sold or even given away in Canada.
Health Canada would like to remind Canadians to report any health or safety incidents related to the use of this product or any other consumer product or cosmetic by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.
This recall is also posted on the OECD Global Portal on Product Recalls website. You can visit this site for more information on other international consumer product recalls.