Group Cautions Parents and Kids against Toy “Magnetic Putty” with High Arsenic and Lead Content
Photo Courtesy of EU RAPEX
The EcoWaste Coalition, a non-profit environment and health group, today alerted consumers against a toy stress reliever consisting of a putty substance and a small cube magnet that was recently withdrawn in Europe due to its excessive arsenic and lead content.
Citing information from the European Union’s Rapid Alert System (RAPEX) for dangerous non-food products, the group warned that public authorities in the United Kingdom have ordered Magnetic Putty to be withdrawn from the market for safety reasons.
“It’s possible that Magnetic Putty, which is sold online, is already being used by some Filipino children. To avoid serious chemical and choking risks, they should stop using the product immediately,” advised Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
The said toy is not duly notified with the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines as per FDA’s website.
“We also urge online retailers to remove the listings for the banned toy following the moves by Amazon, eBay and Groupon as reported in the British media,” he said.
As of this time, e-commerce retailers Alibaba, Lazada and Shopee have yet to remove Magnetic Putty from their websites.
Based on the investigation conducted by UK’s Northamptonshire Trading Standards Service, the gold-colored Magnetic Putty contains high amounts of arsenic (measured value: 32.9mg/kg) and lead (measured value: 29 mg/kg).
“Arsenic is toxic and exposure to lead is harmful for human health and can cause developmental neurotoxicity,” the UK agency said.
The magnet is a small part with a high magnetic flux, it added.
“Children swallowing two or more magnets or a magnet and a metal object have previously required major surgery as the magnets are attracted to each other and may cause lacerations of the digestive tract,” the UK agency reported.
-end-
Reference:
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/consumers_safety/safety_products/rapex/alerts/?event=main.notification&search_term=A12/0227/18&exclude_search_term=0&search_year=2018
http://www3.northamptonshire.gov.uk/news/council-news/Pages/unsafe-toys-withdrawn-from-sale-after-trading-standards-investigation.aspx
Online listings for Magnetic Putty (last checked on 19 February 2018):
https://www.lazada.com.ph/magnetic-putty-slime-with-free-magnet-and-2-pairs-of-googly-eyes-gold-83953551.html?spm=a2o4l.searchlist.list.75.3acc2fbel7PLpV
https://www.lazada.com.ph/magnetic-putty-slime-with-free-magnet-and-2-pairs-of-googly-eyes-blue-83939727.html?spm=a2o4l.searchlist.list.173.36052fbeSnp9Kv
https://shopee.ph/Magnetic-Putty-Toy-Stress-Reliever-for-Kids-and-Adults-for-Fun-Green-i.45368601.844733840
https://shopee.ph/HGO-Magnetic-Putty-Toy-Stress-Reliever-for-Kids-and-Adults-i.42070529.740656385
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Magic-Magnetic-Thinking-Putty-Therapy-Putty_60700508942.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.33.39af36cbIPoUFe&s=p
The EcoWaste Coalition, a non-profit environment and health group, today alerted consumers against a toy stress reliever consisting of a putty substance and a small cube magnet that was recently withdrawn in Europe due to its excessive arsenic and lead content.
Citing information from the European Union’s Rapid Alert System (RAPEX) for dangerous non-food products, the group warned that public authorities in the United Kingdom have ordered Magnetic Putty to be withdrawn from the market for safety reasons.
“It’s possible that Magnetic Putty, which is sold online, is already being used by some Filipino children. To avoid serious chemical and choking risks, they should stop using the product immediately,” advised Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
The said toy is not duly notified with the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines as per FDA’s website.
“We also urge online retailers to remove the listings for the banned toy following the moves by Amazon, eBay and Groupon as reported in the British media,” he said.
As of this time, e-commerce retailers Alibaba, Lazada and Shopee have yet to remove Magnetic Putty from their websites.
Based on the investigation conducted by UK’s Northamptonshire Trading Standards Service, the gold-colored Magnetic Putty contains high amounts of arsenic (measured value: 32.9mg/kg) and lead (measured value: 29 mg/kg).
“Arsenic is toxic and exposure to lead is harmful for human health and can cause developmental neurotoxicity,” the UK agency said.
The magnet is a small part with a high magnetic flux, it added.
“Children swallowing two or more magnets or a magnet and a metal object have previously required major surgery as the magnets are attracted to each other and may cause lacerations of the digestive tract,” the UK agency reported.
-end-
Reference:
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/consumers_safety/safety_products/rapex/alerts/?event=main.notification&search_term=A12/0227/18&exclude_search_term=0&search_year=2018
http://www3.northamptonshire.gov.uk/news/council-news/Pages/unsafe-toys-withdrawn-from-sale-after-trading-standards-investigation.aspx
Online listings for Magnetic Putty (last checked on 19 February 2018):
https://www.lazada.com.ph/magnetic-putty-slime-with-free-magnet-and-2-pairs-of-googly-eyes-gold-83953551.html?spm=a2o4l.searchlist.list.75.3acc2fbel7PLpV
https://www.lazada.com.ph/magnetic-putty-slime-with-free-magnet-and-2-pairs-of-googly-eyes-blue-83939727.html?spm=a2o4l.searchlist.list.173.36052fbeSnp9Kv
https://shopee.ph/Magnetic-Putty-Toy-Stress-Reliever-for-Kids-and-Adults-for-Fun-Green-i.45368601.844733840
https://shopee.ph/HGO-Magnetic-Putty-Toy-Stress-Reliever-for-Kids-and-Adults-i.42070529.740656385
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Magic-Magnetic-Thinking-Putty-Therapy-Putty_60700508942.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.33.39af36cbIPoUFe&s=p
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