Magnetic toys that killed one boy and injured more than 2 dozen others are still available for sale in many Illinois stores according to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. The attorney general’s office found the recalled toys at several stores all over the state, and a Chicago Tribune reporter was able to purchase the toys Wal-Mart, Target and Big Lots stores in the northwest suburbs.

These toys have magnets that can fall out of the toy and be eaten by small children. Once more than one magnet is ingested they can attract to each other inside the body, causing intestinal damage and death.

The toys were originally recalled on March 31, 2006, but subsequent injuries prompted an expanded recalled April 19, 2007.

HOW TO TELL IF YOU’RE LOOKING AT A RECALLED MAGNETIX SET: The recalled toys lack a warning label on the box. This warning label reads:

“CAUTION: Do not ingest or inhale magnets.
Attraction of magnets in the body may cause
serious injury and require immediate medical care.”

If you see any of these toys without the warning label, take a picture and send it to us at tips [at] consumerist [dot] com. Remember: If it has the warning label, it is not a recalled version of the toy. —MEGHANN MARCO

Child’s Death Prompts Replacement Program of Magnetic Building Sets [CPSC]
Magnetix Magnetic Building Set Recall Expanded [CPSC]
Some stores in Illinois selling recalled toys [Chicago Tribune]

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