IKEA Recalls 36 Million Chests, Dressers After Six Deaths Tipped-over furniture or television sets kill a U.S. child every two weeks, according to U.S. commission.

By Reuters

This story originally appeared on Reuters

Carlos Hamann | Getty Images
Elliot Kaye (L), chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and CPSC employees watch as a 28-pound (13 kilo) dummy(C) falls over and under IKEAs Malm model chest of drawers, during a live demonstration at the National Press Club in Washington.

Swedish furniture retailer IKEA Group is recalling almost 36 million chests and dressers in the United States and Canada that have been linked to the deaths of six children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Tuesday.

The furnishings can topple over if they are not anchored securely to walls, posing a threat to children, the commission said in a statement.

The recall covers six models of MALM chests or dressers manufactured from 2002 to 2016, as well as about 100 other families of chests or dressers, it said.

"It is simply too dangerous to have the recalled furniture in your home unanchored, especially if you have young children," CPSC Chairman Elliott Kaye said in a statement.

Tipped-over furniture or television sets kill a U.S. child every two weeks, he said.

An Ikea MALM dresser is placed by the road following the recall of almost 36 million chests and dressers in the United States and Canada.
Image credit: Reuters | Brendan McDermid

Two U.S. toddlers died in separate 2014 incidents when MALM chests fell over on them. A 22-month-old boy was killed last year in a similar incident, after IKEA had announced a repair program included a free wall-anchoring kit. None of the furnishings in the fatal incidents had been anchored to the wall.

IKEA also had received reports of 41 tip-over incidents involving non-MALM chests that caused 19 injuries and the deaths of three children from 1989 to 2007.

As part of the recall, IKEA is offering refunds or a free wall-anchoring kit. The U.S. recall covers about 8 million MALM chests and dressers and 21 million other model chests and dressers. About 6.6 million are being recalled in Canada.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Dan Grebler)

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Leadership

Do You Have a Strong Identity? 5 Ways to Uncover the Core of Your Organization — And Why It Matters

Understanding and carefully adapting organization identity in concert with emergent realities provides the balance our organizations need in our present turbulent climate.

Collaboration

This Is the Unseen Advantage Your Small Business Might Need

If you're ready to learn how to help your business increase revenue, access new markets, create better customer experiences and brand awareness, strategic alliances may be the answer you're looking for.

Business Ideas

This Teacher Sells Digital Downloads for $10. Her Side Hustle Now Makes Six Figures a Month: 'It Seems Too Good to Be True, But It's Not.'

When one middle school teacher needed to make some extra income, she started a remote side hustle with no physical products and incredibly low overhead. Now she brings in six figures each month, and offers courses teaching others how to do the same.

Business News

Elon Musk Gives Profanity-Laden Tirade During DealBook Interview: "Go F--- Yourself'

Musk addressed the companies that have pulled advertising from the X platform at the 2023 DealBook Summit in New York on Wednesday. Watch the interview, here.

Living

'I Haven't Ticked All the Boxes Yet.' Hilary Duff Reveals Her Next Venture After More Than 2 Decades in the Spotlight — and the Surprisingly Relatable Key to Her Enduring Success

The actor talks entrepreneurship, secrets to success and her latest role as chief brand director for Below 60°, a product line of air fragrances.