Five popular toy brands have been added to the growing list of potentially dangerous toys and accessories being sold in retail stores across the Island and the United States.

Bermuda's Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) made the announcement yesterday, just days after announcing a recall of Fisher Price brand products that was found to contain poisonous levels of lead paint.

That recall, like the latest, was announced by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and affects roughly 9.5 million toys in the United States and 11 million in foreign countries.

And, there have already been reports of children being seriously injured in the US, with a seven-year-old Indianapolis girl requiring surgery to repair abdominal damage, after swallowing magnets from the toys.

'Barbie and Tanner' play sets, made by Mattel, with the model numbers j9472 and j9560; include a scooper accessory with magnetic ends that easily detach.

Recalled scoopers have a visible silver-coloured, disc-shaped magnet on the end of the scooper. Scoopers that have a white material covering the magnets and products manufactured after January 31, 2007 are not being recalled. The affected toys were distributed between May 2006 and August 2007.

In addition, 'Doggie Day Care' play sets, various 'Polly Pocket' dolls and accessories, 'Batman and One Piece' magnetic action figures, are products that should be immediately taken away from children and returned to their place of purchase with the receipt.

The recalls fall under the Consumer Protection Act 1999 in conjunction with the US CPSC.

As with all of these recalled items, no reports of injuries have been reported locally, although there have been incidents where children have put these items in their mouths.

The OCA contacted the majority of toy retailers in Bermuda and advised them of the recall. An enforcement officer visited the toy stores and the inventory was inspected.

It was then discovered a total of 33 of the recalled 'Polly Pocket' toys have been removed from the shelves at the major toy stores and will be sent back to Mattel.