Mattel has recalled millions of toys

superscaper

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

I thought it was because the magnets contained lead?

No magnet I know of contains lead. There would be no advantage to using it in a magnet. The hazard with magnets is physical not chemical. Swallowing one is as dangerous as swallowing a small item of anything else. The bigger danger is when you swallow more than one (especially with very strong neodymium magnets nowadays). A lot of damage can be done in the stomach/intestines if more than one magnet gets attracted to each other. Not to mention the magnets possibly shattering into small shards when they snap together. With larger stronger magnets, I know people (adult researchers) who've been injured when those very strong magnets suddenly snap together (get their fingers in the way etc), so you can imagine what may happen at a smaller scale inside a childs organs. I wouldn't dismiss the risk just because they aren't toxic.

superscaper

Dangers of swallowing multiple magnets (actual medical cases):
http://www2.rsna.org/pr/target.cfm?ID=203

lucy2308

3 Injuries from millions of Polly Pocket toys sold, too my mind is quite a low risk!! Unpleasant for the kids and worrying for the parents however statistically very low risk.

My girls love PP and I was concerned about the size of these small toys with magnets in them way before this. I therefore sat them down at the outset and explained they must never put these small toys near their mouths.

Wht haven't Trampolines and Heelys been recalled!!

Seems to me they are far more dangerous.

deanos

Heres the new number its open 24/7 ive just got off the phone to them, its 0808 234 8437 and its free phone

Loobysaver

I phoned that number and got through to an american!! I panicked that I was phoning america and It wasn't freephone and hung up!!!

Can anyone please reassure me that this is a freephone number for UK customers please????

superscaper

0808 is a UK freephone number, whether this gets forwarded/transferred or not is irrelevant. You didn't dial an international number, "001" for USA, so you can't be charged international rate. You only get charged for the number you dial, in this case nothing as it's 0808. Also there are some Americans who live in the UK (I'm the offspring of one).

deanos

Yes it does go to the Mattel CS in America, dont worry they are quite nice

Loobysaver

OK I'm confused now. I phoned again and spoke to the american lady at mattell. She is going to send me a brochure and list with a pre-paid label.

What I don't get is that she said something about it only affecting products bought after 1 May 2007?? Did I hear that right?? I've got toys I bought last xmas which are on the recall list!

Can anyone explain please?

superscaper

Loobysaver wrote: »

What I don't get is that she said something about it only affecting products bought after 1 May 2007?? Did I hear that right?? I've got toys I bought last xmas which are on the recall list!

Can anyone explain please?

Does the list specify batch numbers etc? Quite reasonable to assume it is only certain batches since 01/05/07 and production was ok before that even for the same toys. If the recall list doesn't specify dates or batch numbers then it'd be safe to presume you should return anything on that list rather than taking the word of CS over the phone.

superscaper

Well looking at the Mattel American recall list myself on the website it does explicitly state that it only affects toys after 1st May. So it would have to both be on the list and have been bought since 1st May (and I assume it will be the same date for the UK). Otherwise it doesn't suffer the same production problems (could have even been manufactured somewhere else entirely) as the ones that need to be recalled.