Tag - product discontinued

March 28, 2011

Magnet Mishap – Popular Magnetic Ball Toy Discontinued from our Science Store

The magnetic spheres might be tiny, but they’re super strong. These tiny rare earth magnets are so strong that their attractive forces work through flesh (your tongue to be specific). Unfortunately, a 13 year old girl nearly died after accidentally swallowing magnetic ball bearings she used as a fake tongue piercing. This most recent accident prompted our product team to remove the popular science toy from our print and online catalog.

According to news reports from KVDR Fox31 News, the girl is recovering after swallowing fake tongue rings, which are really small magnetized ball bearings.  The tiny magnets could have burned a hole through her intestines.

“Of course I got upset and I had asked her what is in your mouth, then she said, “They come out mommy, look,” and she showed me.  I told her “you need to throw those away,”" says Lauren’s mother, Andrea Ulibarri.

The pain got so intense on Tuesday that Lauren called her mother at work.

Her mom says that Lauren

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