Feds file suit against Buckyballs, retailers ban product

By Jayne O'Donnell, USA TODAY
USA Today
Jul. 26, 2012

This could apply to almost every product for adults on the market, if the criteria is will swallowing said product hurt a child, then basically everything should be banned. Notice though, you don't see these people calling for fluoride to be banned from children's toothpaste, toothpaste which is literally sweetened with all sorts of artificial sweeteners and made to taste like candy! In that case, one small warning is apparently enough! - Chris, InfoLib

See: Unintentional Poisoning is Second Leading Cause of Hospitalizations for Children Under Four: "Toothpaste, lotions, nail polish and prescription drugs are the main source of poisoning"The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday sued the maker of the popular magnetic desk toy Buckyballs to stop the sale of the product because of the risks posed to children.

Some major retailers, including Amazon, Brookstone and Urban Outfitters, have agreed to stop selling these and similar products at CPSC's request. Children who swallow the tiny magnetic balls can require surgery when they become stuck in their intestines.

[...]Responding to a request for comment, the company sent a press release headlined, "CPSC: Thank you for trying to drive a $50 million New York-based consumer product company out of business." Buckyballs and Buckycubes are Maxfield & Oberton's sole products; 2.5 million sets have been sold since 2009.

Betty Lopez, Sabrina's mother, says her daughter never saw the warning on the Buckyballs packaging and says it "wasn't sufficient enough for the parent who did buy them."

"Any child's life is worth more than $50 million," adds Lopez.

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