Thursday July 26th, 2012

informationliberation.com

Feds file suit against Buckyballs, retailers ban product (USA Today)
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.