CPSC Warns Consumers of Ingestion Risks Posed by Magnetic Chess Games

The Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning urging people to immediately dispose of a magnetic game due to serious ingestion risks for children. The “Magnetic Chess Games” sold by China-based seller JOMO contain magnets that do not comply with U.S. federal safety regulations, posing a risk of serious injury or death.

Despite the violation notice issued to JOMO, the company has not agreed to recall the games or provide a remedy. The CPSC advised people to stop using the game and throw it away immediately. The games were sold online at walmart.com in a blue box labeled “Magnetic,” containing loose black magnets but not chess-shaped pieces as marketed.

Walmart has taken action to remove the games from its shelves following the CPSC warning. Experts have long warned about the health hazards of swallowing magnets, especially for children. Ingested high-powered magnets can attract each other or other metal objects in the body, leading to blockage, infection, blood poisoning, or even death.

The CPSC estimates that 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospitals annually between 2017 and 2021, with eight related deaths reported from 2005 through 2021. The commission emphasized the importance of heeding the warning and ensuring the safety of children.