The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a critical warning regarding “Magnetic Chess Games” sold by the China-based seller JOMO, highlighting severe ingestion risks for children. The CPSC’s alert, released Thursday, indicates that these games contain magnets that fail to meet U.S. federal safety standards, posing a risk of serious injury or death if ingested.
According to the CPSC, the magnets in these games are loose and hazardous. Despite the serious nature of the warning, JOMO has not agreed to recall the products or provide any remedies. The commission is advising consumers to cease use of the games immediately and dispose of them to avoid potential harm.
The affected Magnetic Chess Games, which were sold online at Walmart.com, are packaged in a blue box labeled “Magnetic” on both the front and back. The games contain approximately 20 loose black magnets, but contrary to its marketing, do not include chess-shaped pieces.
Details regarding the duration or specific sales timeline for these games remain unclear. The CPSC spokesperson noted that further information could not be provided due to JOMO’s lack of cooperation with the investigation.
In response to the CPSC’s warning, Walmart has initiated efforts to remove the games from their online platform, emphasizing that customer health and safety are their top priorities.
Health experts have long recognized the dangers associated with ingesting magnets. High-powered magnets, when swallowed, can attract each other or other metal objects within the body, potentially causing digestive blockages, infections, blood poisoning, or even death.
From 2017 to 2021, the CPSC estimates that approximately 2,400 cases of magnet ingestion were treated in hospitals annually. The commission has recorded eight deaths related to magnet ingestion from 2005 through 2021, including two fatalities outside the United States.
