Ikea recalls 29 million chests, dressers after 6 children die in tip-over accidents
In a deal with federal regulators, Ikea announced Tuesday that it would recall 29 million chests and dressers after at least six toddlers were crushed to death in tipover accidents.
The move by the Swedish company, the world’s largest furniture seller, represented a crucial victory for consumer advocates in a yearslong effort to hold it accountable for a growing death toll of young children dating to 1989.
The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a stark warning to owners of furniture included in the recall. “If you have or think you have one of these products, act immediately,” said the commission’s chairman, Elliot Kaye.
Alan Feldman, a Philadelphia lawyer who is representing three of the families of toddlers in lawsuits against Ikea, said he welcomed the recall, but wished it had been issued much sooner.
Lars Petersson, the president and chief executive of Ikea USA, said the recalled furniture was never intended to be free-standing, but rather secured to walls with provided straps.
“If you are assembling correctly, the product is actually a very safe product,” he said Tuesday.
Petersson declined to comment on the lawsuits brought by families, which accuse the company of knowing about the deadly risks and failing to do anything about it.
A child dies, on average, once every two weeks in accidents that involve the toppling of furniture or bulky television sets, according to the safety commission. Every year, about 38,000 people visit emergency rooms for injuries related to tip-over accidents, a majority involving children under 5.
As part of the agreement Tuesday, Ikea agreed to pick up the recalled furniture from customers’ homes and issue a refund, or to install an anchor that secures it to the wall.