Someone else posted an alert a few weeks ago. Here is something from today's Washington Post, The Checkout column by Caroline Mayer:

Major Toy Recall of Magnetix

The Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced a major recall of all Magnetix magnetic building sets because the tiny magnets inside the plastic building pieces and rods can fall out and be VERY hazardous, especially to young children who like to swallow small parts. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract to each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal. The agency said it knows of 34 incidents involving the small magnets, including one death and four serious injuiries.

A 20-month-old boy died after he swallowed magnets that twisted his small intestine and created a blockage. Three children between 3 and 8 had intestinal perforations that required surgery and hopsitalization in intensive care. A 5-year-old aspirated two magnets that were surgically removed from his lung.

The sets, made in China, imported by Rose Art Industries Inc. and sold by major retailers incuding Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, Fred Meyer, Design Science Toys Ltd, and A.C. Moore, should be removed from play areas immediately and returned to Rose Art for a free replacement product suitable for young children. Visit Rose Art's Web site for details. As of 11:30 this morning, the site was still promoting Magnetix and didn't have recall details but I'm told it should be up later today. Meanwhile, read the AP story for more details.

By Debbie on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 01:51 pm:

Thanks for posting this, Ginny. My boys have these. Since they are older (6 & 8) they normally don't put things in their mouths, etc, but I am still going to take them away. Better save then sorry.

By Tink on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 05:09 pm:

Bumping up. I know several of us have children with these.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, April 2, 2006 - 09:55 am:

Update:
WASHINGTON — The company that makes the popular Magnetix toy building sets is not pulling the products off shelves or changing its safety warnings or package labels despite a voluntary recall announced last week by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

This is from a Seattle Times article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002905272_recall02.html

The manufacturer says the product is clearly labled "6 and up" and has a "small pieces" warning, and parents should read the label. What they don't say is that the product should be made so that the magnets don't come out of the plastic pieces (imo).