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Button battery and magnet recalls explained

Some children’s product recalls concern button or coin batteries, battery compartments, small magnets, or parts containing magnets. The official notice identifies the affected item and explains what owners should do.

If someone has an injury or has swallowed a battery or magnet, get medical help right away. In the US, call 911, Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666. Do not wait for a recall search, symptoms, or a company response.

A notice may concern a product containing a button or coin battery, the compartment that holds it, or packaging for batteries. Read the particular description to understand which product and component are included.

You can find background through CPSC’s button battery information. Use the recall notice itself for the affected models and remedy. General information about batteries does not tell you whether your particular item is included in a recall.

A product’s appearance may change little between versions. Compare model numbers, date codes, and other identifiers rather than relying on a photograph alone.

Magnet-related recalls may involve loose magnets or products with parts that contain magnets. The notice may describe the size or form of the pieces and explain how to identify the affected set or model.

Read CPSC’s magnet information for the agency’s explanation of concerns involving swallowed magnets. This guide does not provide medical assessment or home treatment instructions.

If a piece is missing and you think it may have been swallowed, get medical help right away. In the US, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911. Have the product information available if you can, without delaying the call.

Steps

  1. Find the brand, model, and any batch or date information on the product or packaging.
  2. Search CPSC recalls and compare the written description with your item.
  3. Read the instructions about use and the available remedy.
  4. Contact the company through the official notice and keep a record of its response.

Follow the exact remedy

Do not assume a home repair, extra fastener, or replacement part resolves the recall. Follow the specific instructions in the notice and ask the company if you are uncertain about a step.

Before discarding packaging or removing labels, check whether the remedy process requires a photograph or identifying information. Keep the recall number and your correspondence together so you can follow up without starting your search again.

For help reading the sections of a notice, see our CPSC recall notice guide. For car seat recall information, check NHTSA recalls.

When you cannot find a match

If an item was not found in the recall data we hold, check CPSC or NHTSA as appropriate and contact the company. A search result does not assess the item or explain a missing component.

You can report a children’s product incident through SaferProducts.gov. Deal with any immediate medical concern first, then keep a copy of the report and any company messages for your records.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public information. Independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by CPSC or NHTSA.