East Sussex County Council Trading Standards are warning that when the toys, also sold as healing magnets, power stones or torpedo magnets, break they can produce razor sharp shards and fragments.
Crackle Jacks are made up of two black hematite stones that, when thrown in the air, join together by magnetic force making a crackle noise. However, even a small tap can break the stones.
Although the products’ importer had previously received a report saying that the toys complied with Toy Safety Regulations, it was based on just a small sample. The importer now admits that the items are dangerous following further testing where a majority of 200 toys tested broke.
However, the dangerous toys are not easily separated from any safe ones as they have no batch code and so are impossible to recall.
Councillor Bob Tidy, Lead Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: "Anyone who is selling or has bought this so called toy should return it to where they bought it from immediately – the shards can cause serious injury and could even cause blindness.”
The hematite stones are around 6cm in length and are highly polished. They have been found in pound shops and health shops. For more information contact Trading Standards on 01323 418200.
Reference:
04/280/HP
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