Ikea recalls 36 million chests, dressers in US, Canada after six deaths

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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Ikea announce the recall of 29 million chests and dressers in the US that regulators say are 'too dangerous' to have in a home with young children. An additional 7 million have been recalled in Canada.
Consumer officials in the US stage a live demonstration using a 13kg dummy and a set of Ikea Malm drawers on June 28, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - 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 US 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 US child every two weeks, he said.

Two US 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 programme included a free wall-anchoring kit.

None of the furnishings in the fatal incidents had been anchored to the wall.

Ikea also 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 US recall covers about eight million Malm chests and dressers and 21 million other model chests and dressers. About 6.6 million are being recalled in Canada.

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