TORONTO (CP) - Sears Canada (TSX:SCC) has announced a recall of Polly Pocket Quik-Clik Boutique toys sold in Canada between March 2005 and this November, after reports children were injured in the United States.

It said Friday it was advised by Mattel Inc. (NYSE:MAT) of a potential safety hazard.

Magnets inside the toy can fall out undetected and may be swallowed, aspirated by young children or placed in a child's nose or mouth. When more than one magnet is swallowed, they may be attracted to one another, causing intestinal perforation, blockage or infection, which may be fatal.

A similar recall was announced in the United States Tuesday.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Mattel was recalling 4.4 million of the Polly Pocket magnetic play sets after three children were treated in hospital with serious injuries after swallowing the tiny magnets.

Sears is asking that customers who own the toys immediately stop children from using them and contact Mattel at 1-888-597-6597 to arrange for their return. They will receive a voucher for a replacement toy of the customer's choice, up to the value of the returned product.

The Sears item number on the sales receipt or packaging should be 79245. The retailer says it sold only the Quik-Clik Boutique toy and other recalled models of the Polly Pocket magnetic play sets were not sold by Sears Canada.






Copyright © 2006 Canadian Press

darn those polly pockets...I knew they were bad news.

Every year around christmas time is when the defect toys start to roll into the stores, and then, we start to have complaints a few weeks later about them. Why do companies do this to themselves?

to quote george carlin:
"whatever happen to survival of the fittest; whichever kid swallows too many marbles doesn't grow up to have kids of their own"

plus if the parents aren't smart enough to realize then oh well

They rush to try to get the products in time so they could make LOTS of $$$$$$$$. It's in the rush and not patience that makes these defects.