The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing a voluntary recall of all Buckyballs and Buckycubes magnetic sets. The recall is part of the settlement of an administrative case filed by CPSC in July 2012, which sought a mandatory recall. It also calls for Craig Zucker, the creator of Buckyballs, to fund a recall trust that will be created and controlled by CPSC.
From 2009 to the present, the commission staff received numerous reports of ingestions involving Buckyballs and Buckycubes, many of which required surgery. This recall is intended to protect children and teenagers from injuries that can occur when multiple magnets are ingested.
CPSC urges consumers to stop use of all Buckyballs and Buckycubes immediately, and to check for magnets that have become separated from the set. Funds provided by Mr. Zucker will be used to provide a refund to consumers who own and return these magnetic sets. Funds provided by Mr. Zucker will also be used to establish a website with information regarding this recall, including an online registration page to file a claim.
CPSC staff had alleged that Buckyballs and Buckycubes high-powered magnet sets create a substantial product hazard. Mr. Zucker disputed these allegations, but has agreed to the recall in settlement of the allegations against him in the complaint.