A large volume of toys – 21m sets of MGA Entertainment’s Miniverse Make It Mini sets – are being recalled across the US over risks of skin, eye and respiratory irritation.
In an announcement on Tuesday, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the toy sets, which consist of spheres containing material required to assemble miniature imitations of appliance, food or lifestyle items, contain resin that, when liquid, can cause various physical issues.
The resin packaging in each set may imitate food items such as a peanut butter jar, maple syrup and a milk container and the resins when hardened imitate food, the CPSC said.
Each sphere consists of a disposable wrapper bearing the words “MGA’s Miniverse” on a yellow background and “Make It Appliances” or “Make It Mini Food” in bright pink, or “Make It Mini Lifestyle” in salmon pink. The wrapper contains information related to the manufacturer’s identity and country-specific information in different languages, CPSC added.
According to the CPSC, the resins contain acrylates, a chemical agent made from acrylic acid, in amounts prohibited in children’s products by the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. After the resins harden, they no longer pose a risk.
MGA Entertainment has received 26 reports of incidents with this product affecting children and adults. Those include reports of burns and irritation, respiratory irritation, as well as one report of a consumer’s asthma being triggered.
In addition to the toy sets being recalled across the US, there are 1m recalls that have been issued across Canada.
In a statement to CNN, the MGA Entertainment CEO, Isaac Larian, said that the product had been on the market for 18 months and that only 10% to 15% of the recalled products contain liquid resin.
From October 2022 through June 2024, the sets, which were manufactured in China and ranged in price from $7 to $13, were sold at Target, Walmart, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Aldi and Hobby Lobby, in addition to other stores and Amazon.com. Some sets were also sold in a box ranging in price from $14 to $52.
In an FAQ document posted online, MGA Entertainment said that the remedy upon returning a recalled set with unused resin is the consumer’s choice of a replacement product or a refund. MGA Entertainment also said it will pay for return shipping labels.
The Guardian has reached out to MGA Entertainment for comment.