Repeated injuries from accidental swallowing of powerful neodymium magnetic balls!

In April 2018, NCAC issued an alert on child's accidental swallowing of neodymium magnetic balls.¹

Since similar incidents happened even after that, the Consumer Safety Investigation Commission and the Japan Pediatric Society jointly issued an alert in November 2021.

In March 2022, the Consumer Safety Investigation Commission released a document titled "Child's accidental swallowing of neodymium magnetic balls". The commission submitted a proposal to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to consider legal regulation to keep magnetic balls away from children and to ask cooperation to online mall operators. Furthermore, the commission submitted a proposal to the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs Agency to enhance the injury data collection system and to keep consumers informed. On the same day, the Consumer Affairs Agency issued an alert on this problem.

In June 2022, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released a message titled "How to protect children from accidental swallowing of neodymium magnetic balls (wake-up call and request for cooperation)" based on the views of the Consumer Safety Investigation Commission. In this message, the Ministry issued an alert to consumers who are going to buy magnetic balls, called for measures to be taken by businesses selling magnetic balls on online malls, and sought cooperation from online mall operators.

In June 2022, the Doctor Mailbox² on NCAC's website received a report that a two-year-old child accidentally swallowed several magnetic balls and was raced to hospital.

Following a series of similar incidents, NCAC decided to issue an alert to consumers again.

Photo1: Magnetic balls and cubes (example)

Photo2: Magnetic balls/cubes attracting to one another through a finger

1. ¹ "Accidental ingestion of high powered magnetic balls - infant's digestive tract got holes, and the magnetic balls were removed by laparotomy" released by NCAC on April 19, 2018 (Japanese version)
2.   "Accidental ingestion of high powered magnetic balls - infant's digestive tract got holes, and the magnetic balls were removed by laparotomy" released by NCAC on April 19, 2018 (English version)
3. ² NCAC has a webpage called "Doctor Mailbox" to catch information directly from doctors about accidental injuries caused by products or services, which will be used to help prevent similar incidents.

Two magnetic balls of diameter 3 mm are on a pinky finger. Two magnetic balls of diameter 5 mm are on a medicinal finger. Two magnetic cubes 5 mm on a side are on a middle finger.

Case reported to Doctor Mailbox

[Case]

A two-year-old girl accidentally swallowed magnetic balls. Seven magnetic balls stuck together were found in her stomach. The magnetic balls were endoscopically removed under general anesthesia.

Advice to consumers

• Powerful magnetic balls/cubes are not intended to be used as toys for children. Keep them away from children.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect your child may have swallowed a magnet.

Request to businesses

• In order to prevent children from swallowing powerful magnetic balls/cubes, please caution that consumers should keep them away from children. We request businesses to avoid representation and advertisement giving the false impression that they are intended to be used as toys and intellectual training tools for children.

Request for cooperation to online mall operators

• In order to prevent children from swallowing powerful magnetic balls/cubes, we ask for cooperation to avoid representation and advertisement giving the false impression that they are intended to be used as toys and intellectual training tools for children. We also request online mall operators to caution consumers and to keep raising consumer awareness.

Request to the government

• In order to prevent children from swallowing powerful magnetic balls/cubes, we request the government to consider establishing legal regulation proposed by the Consumer Safety Investigation Commission.
• In order to prevent children from swallowing powerful magnetic balls/cubes, we request the government to collect information on related injuries to effectively communicate the risk of accidental swallowing of magnetic balls/cubes and to keep raising consumer awareness.