MONTREAL - MEGA Brands, the world's second largest maker of children's building blocks, on Monday announced a global recall of Chinese-made magnetic action figures and toys, citing possible safety concerns.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said it had received 44 complaints in the United States of magnets coming loose from the company's MagnaMan action figures, Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. toys.

In one case, a three-year-old boy received medical treatment to remove a magnet from his nasal cavity, the government agency said.

But no injuries were reported.

Each toy has parts that attach with magnets.

'Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated,' the company said in a statement. 'If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.'

The recall of 2.4 million toys prompted a 14-per cent drop in Mega Brands' share price in Toronto, to C$4.4 (S$6.13) by mid-afternoon.