NEW ZEALAND : A 13-year-old boy in New Zealand swallowed approximately 80 to 100 extremely powerful neodymium magnetic pills. The pills were purchased from an online marketplace (reportedly Temu). The child suffered from stomach/abdominal pain for four days, then was taken to the hospital where an X-ray showed chains of magnets that had accumulated in various parts and caused damage. The boy underwent surgery and had to have the magnets removed, as well as a section of his intestines where the tissues had suffered severe damage. Medical experts have called the incident “extremely dangerous for children” and a “necessary preventive measure,” especially due to its online availability. It should be noted that when children swallow multiple small, powerful magnets, they can “stick” together in different parts of the stomach or intestines. This sticking action creates pressure between tissues, can affect blood flow, cause tissue death, and can even lead to blockages or perforations.
Clarification from Temu Spokesperson
Following the report, we contacted the New Zealand Medical Journal to learn more about the case. According to the editors, the 13-year-old teenager reported that the magnets were purchased from Temu, but we have not been able to independently verify this.
As a precaution, we reviewed the photo of the magnets published in the Journal and checked listings of similar products on our platform. The magnets currently available are compliant with New Zealand regulations, and such products are also sold through other major online and physical retailers.
While these products are lawful to sell, they can be dangerous if swallowed and we support efforts to raise public awareness about magnet safety.
As a third-party marketplace, Temu requires all sellers to comply with applicable laws and safety standards, and we act promptly to remove any listings found to be non-compliant.
