Product recalls

The following recalls have been announced:

. A recall of Magnetix building sets has been expanded after more children swallowed the tiny magnets in them and were seriously injured, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Thursday.

In March 2006 Mega Brands Inc. recalled 3.8 million of the magnetic building sets when one child died and four others were seriously injured after they swallowed the magnets. Thursday’s recall includes an additional 4 million sets. In total, the CPSC and Mega Brands know of the one death, one aspiration and 27 intestinal injuries. All but one of the cases required emergency surgery.

The expanded recall includes all sets except Magnetix sets sold since March 31, 2006, that are age-labeled “6+” and have the following caution label: “CAUTION: Do not ingest or inhale magnets. Attraction of magnets in the body may cause serious injury and require immediate medical care.”

The newer sets better retain magnets because of material and design changes, according to Mega Brands.

The commission received reports of at least 1,500 incidents in which the small magnets separated from the toy.

If more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attach to each other and cause intestinal perforation, infection or blockage, which can be fatal. While the hazard was thought to be a problem for children younger than 6, at least 10 injuries involved children between the ages of 6 and 11.

Mega Brands spokesman Alex Radmanovich said the company is not going to quibble with consumers over whether they bought the product within the recall period.

“If you’ve got this product in the home and you feel uncomfortable, please call us,” he said.

Toy and arts and crafts stores nationwide sold the sets. Consumers should contact Mega Brands for a replacement toy. For more information, call Mega Brands at 800-779-7122.

. About 9,900 “Verge” flat-panel television tilt-mount brackets, imported by Circuit City Stores Inc., because the lock bar on the brackets could unfasten when an upward force is put on the attached television, causing the television to fall. The brackets are sold under the “Verge” label and have model numbers VPSW103M or VPSW103M2. This information is written on the packaging.

The brackets were sold at Circuit City stores around the country between September 2006 and April 2007. The brackets were sold individually and as part of installation packages. Circuit City has mailed a repair kit to consumers it was able to contact about the recall. Those who have not received the kit can contact Circuit City at 888-666-9897 or call a professional installer. For more information, visit www.vergeproducts.com or www.cpsc.gov.

. Nissan Motor Co. said April 12 it is recalling about 113,000 minivans over an exhaust pipe problem.

Nissan is recalling Serena minivans produced between April 2005 and August 2006, according to a company report sent to Japan’s Transport Ministry and posted on the ministry’s Web site.

Welded parts of the model’s exhaust pipe could corrode, and in worst cases the pipe could fall off, Nissan said in its report. There were 46 reported cases of problems but no accidents, it said.

Serena is not sold overseas, according to Nissan spokesman Keiko Hoshino.

Meanwhile, Mazda Motor Corp. announced the recall of about 4,300 Bongo commercial vehicles over a control unit problem in the vehicle’s automatic shift system.