# Consumer Protection Agency to ban Magnetic Balls **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 18, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325 "2012-05-18T15:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/61 "2012-05-19T16:47:29Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > No. The government doesn’t work that way. There is no way that a government agency is going to track down each manufacturer and importer of a product, visit them in person and threaten them as such for something like this, especially without leaving a paper trail. There have to be documents somewhere. They do work that way. It isn’t that unusual for them to show up unannounced to go over a complaint and ask the manufacturer to change an aspect of a product. In the case of this product there are only 4 or 5 companies handling it. The three manufacturers I know of make them in the same factory in China. Getting to the source wasn’t particularly difficult. Generally the goal is to come to a reasonable agreement for everyone involved without having to force anyone by means of law. The only thing truly unusual about this is they made effort to stop by at least three offices on the same day. This is extrapolated because three companies contacted the Chinese company to postpone production on the same day. An upcoming ban isn’t beyond bounds of reason as people in this thread have covered issues with the product and how it posses a unique health threat. My friends position based on the interaction is he would have complied with a voluntary ban if he didn’t have so much inventory. He expects they will follow through with an actual ban but that is likely more then a year away, so unless he hears new information he’ll continue to sell of what he has and will not go back to production as getting stuck with inventory he may not be able to sell within the US is costly and inconvenient. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/62 "2012-05-20T07:05:20Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > In the case of this product there are only 4 or 5 companies handling it. The three manufacturers I know of make them in the same factory in China. Getting to the source wasn’t particularly difficult. > (. . . ) > An upcoming ban isn’t beyond bounds of reason as people in this thread have covered issues with the product and how it posses a unique health threat. > (. . .)He expects they will follow through with an actual ban but that is likely more then a year away, so unless he hears new information he’ll continue to sell of what he has and will not go back to production as getting stuck with inventory he may not be able to sell within the US is costly and inconvenient. How does what your friend claim square with the press release given above? Your friend’s claim makes no sense in that it is claiming that the CPA (sic) is going to ban all magnetic toys, where as the press release talks about redesigning toys for children to ensure that the magnetic parts cannot be detached. The later is within reason for the CPSC to do, and fits within their guidelines. They frequently ban toys or have restrictions for toys for children. What I’ve never heard of before is a complete ban on all products for adults. Has anyone? If there is one, then it becomes a legitimate debate on the overreach of government. Otherwise, it’s simply one FOAF on the internet, and should be taken as such. My cousin said that the “government” is going to disband our constitution and submit ourselves to the the UN. Debate: As far as there only being one factor is China which produces this product, that may be true for today, but given Chinese manufacturing, it is not necessarily true for tomorrow. I content with Chinese manufacturers of knock off products quite frequently. If the story in the OP is correct, where are the “children dying?” If that fails to exist, it creates doubts on the rest. Which is more likely? That a government agency which doesn’t exist is making up easily disprovable stories about children dying or that an anonymous person is making extraordinary, unprovable claims? Let the reader decide. ---
**Author:** ![A2Steve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@A2Steve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A2Steve)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/63 "2012-05-20T21:09:15Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > What % less fun would they be if they were only allowed to sell them in a size (unencased in plastic, just a lot bigger) big enough to be really hard to swallow? I can see that as a compromise. Well, they rapidly become too powerful to pull apart without strong fingers. Balls too big to swallow could probably break your hand. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/64 "2012-05-20T21:42:57Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > How does what your friend claim square with the press release given above? Your friend’s claim makes no sense in that it is claiming that the CPA (sic) is going to ban all magnetic toys, where as the press release talks about redesigning toys for children to ensure that the magnetic parts cannot be detached. I never said anything about them banning all magnetic toys they are looking at a very specific novelty toy and determining it needs to be removed from the American market. They can not be redesigned to ensure the magnetic parts can’t be removed as that is a basic concept of the item. > [@](#): > > What I’ve never heard of before is a complete ban on all products for adults. So you’ve never heard about them banning lawn darts despite them being mentioned in this very thread? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/65 "2012-05-21T01:17:29Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > So you’ve never heard about them banning lawn darts despite them being mentioned in this very thread? bleah. I was thinking of them as sports stuff, but I guess they could be considered toys. They did, however, actually cause some deaths, rather than simply have the potential to cause death, which becomes an important point. > [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > If the story in the OP is correct, where are the “children dying?” If that fails to exist, it creates doubts on the rest. Which is more likely? That a government agency which doesn’t exist is making up easily disprovable stories about children dying or that an anonymous person is making extraordinary, unprovable claims? Let the reader decide. We can’t prove or disprove what your friend is claiming he heard. However, we can prove that the “children dying” is not valid. From the press release referenced above: > [@](#): > > Although this is CPSC’s first product wide public warning about high-powered ball-bearing magnets used in adult products, the agency has issued safety alerts previously about the dangers of powerful magnets falling out of children’s toys. In April 2007, CPSC issued a warning about the possibility of high-powered magnets detaching from children’s toys, such as building sets, causing injuries and death. At that time, CPSC was aware of the death of a 20-month-old child and of 33 incidents involving children who had swallowed magnets. Of these 33 incidents, 19 children required surgery to remove the magnets. Since 2008, CPSC has received more than 200 reports of children swallowing magnets and at least 18 of those children required emergency surgery to remove the magnets. The sole death reported does not specifically mention the ball-bearing type of magnet. The type of injuries related specifically to this are: > [@](#): > > Reports of incidents involving these high-powered ball-bearing magnets have increased since 2009. Specifically, CPSC received one incident report in 2009, seven in 2010 and 14 through October 2011. These 22 incidents have involved children ranging in age from 18 months to 15 years old. Of the reported incidents, 17 involved magnet ingestion and 11 required surgical removal of the magnets. When a magnet has to be removed surgically, it often requires the repair of the child’s damaged stomach and intestines. The reason they found this dangerous is > [@](#): > > CPSC has received reports of toddlers finding loose pieces of magnets or magnets left within reach. It can be extremely difficult for a parent to tell if any of the tiny magnets are missing from a set. In some of the reported incidents, toddlers have accessed loose magnets left on a table, refrigerator, sofa or the floor. ,They have taken steps short of a ban by asking parents to be careful. This begs the question of why they didn’t show the press release to your friend, and use it as the basis of the discussion. And what reason is for them to need to visit all the companies, in person, on the same day. They have faxes available. If they decide to ban the products, they’re going to have to have a paper trail. So, again, where are the deaths? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/66 "2012-05-21T01:36:20Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > And what reason is for them to need to visit all the companies, in person, on the same day. They have faxes available. I don’t know feel free to ask them. I have no idea why they felt the need to operate in that manner. They haven’t in the past, my friends experience previously with them has been different. They say ‘we’d like you to change this product or labeling’ and he’s generally compliant. > [@](#): > > If they decide to ban the products, they’re going to have to have a paper trail. They’ve yet to ban them, if the product goes away with them asking companies not to carry them and that actually happens they wouldn’t have any reason to go through the effort of banning them. Time will tell. > [@](#): > > So, again, where are the deaths? I don’t know that’s one of my reasons for starting this thread I want to know if there are any deaths attributed to this product as the agency claimed. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/67 "2012-05-21T01:58:35Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > I don’t know that’s one of my reasons for starting this thread I want to know if there are any deaths attributed to this product as the agency claimed. Or, to be more specific, what your friend claims the agency said. ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/68 "2012-05-21T08:15:55Z")
A friend’s two-year-old died in 2005 after swallowing several tiny, strong magnets. I think they should only be banned for use in toys made for very young children, which I think is already the case. [http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4172391.html](http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4172391.html) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/69 "2012-07-25T21:38:56Z")
Better stock up. [USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2012-07-25/buckyballs-ban/56481316/1) > [@](#): > > Some major retailers, including Amazon, Brookstone and Urban Outfitters, have agreed to stop selling these and similar products because of the risks posed to children who swallow the tiny balls, CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said Wednesday. ThinkGeek no longer has them either. I just bought some off eBay…i hope. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/70 "2012-07-25T22:14:30Z")
Here is the [Huffingtonpost article](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120725/us-buckyballs-magnet-complaint/) Most of the product has already been pulled from the US market now as the CPSC did let the makers know what direction this was heading. They’ll be among the growing list of things those ‘big brother’ Europeans can have that us ‘free’ Americans can’t. Personally however it us fun to watch Craig Zucker stake his flag on his one product and fail. The man is an incredible ass and deserves nothing less. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/71 "2012-07-26T12:20:36Z")
[U.S. sues to stop magnet firm from selling desk toy for adults](http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-nw-cpsc-sues-magnet-maker-20120726,0,3610242.story) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/72 "2012-07-26T13:06:40Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > [U.S. sues to stop magnet firm from selling desk toy for adults](http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-nw-cpsc-sues-magnet-maker-20120726,0,3610242.story) Wow. I don’t have any lil kids. If one were to break into our home and eat my toy, I think they’re asking for trouble. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/73 "2012-07-26T15:25:20Z")
Rename Darwin Balls. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/74 "2012-07-26T16:10:00Z")
I thought magnets had healing powers. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/75 "2012-07-26T16:12:33Z")
[As it was, and shall ever be](http://www.theonion.com/articles/fun-toy-banned-because-of-three-stupid-dead-kids,290/). ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/76 "2012-07-26T16:27:49Z")
Classic article! I was wondering when someone would post a link to it. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/77 "2012-07-27T01:14:37Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > No. The government doesn’t work that way. > [@boytyperanma](#): > > They do work that way. :smack: So much for my brilliance. I’ll be over in MPSIMS where I can’t hurt anyone. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/78 "2012-07-27T01:20:27Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > :smack: > > So much for my brilliance. I’ll be over in MPSIMS where I can’t hurt anyone. It’s all good. I had some of the facts messed up so I can see why my story bordered on unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/79 "2012-07-27T01:31:57Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > It’s all good. I had some of the facts messed up so I can see why my story bordered on unbelievable. I have to thank you for \*not \* quoting me when this story broke. You would have been well within your rights as I was overly snarky on something which I obviously knew nothing about. We work with regulators in a different field and they don’t act like that. I read in one of the articles that said that the commission typically handles it this way. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325/80 "2012-07-27T01:36:39Z")
My store sells them. Over my objections, the display was taken down this morning until we had more info about the recall. About an hour later I had to lug the display back up, not sure why (I assume somebody called a rep). The Buckyballs guy is well and truly an asshole, but his rambling and unnecessarily political letter posted on their site eventually makes a good point: why did the agency that oversees warning labels decide that warning labels were not good enough for this one product, yet OK for every other thing that could kill children if swallowed? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-protection-agency-to-ban-magnetic-balls/622325.md?page=5)