Furniture giant Ikea has issued a recall for 27 million chests and dressers following the deaths of two children last year, in the largest such move in history.
The Swedish manufacturer, which has almost 300 stores worldwide in 27 countries, has offered customers a kit to affix cupboards and dressers over a certain height – including seven million Malm chests – to the wall.
A spokesperson for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) described the items of furniture as “unstable when built”.
The CPSC warns customers “should immediately stop using all Ikea children’s chests and dressers taller than 23.5 inches and adult chests and dressers taller than 29.5in, unless they are securely anchored to the wall.”
READ MORE: ‘Ikea Monkey’ Darwin will not be evicted
Ikea promises to be first to major retailer to pay ‘living wage’
Expert say Ikea is bad for your relationship
Neither the CPSC or Ikea have described the move as a recall - but the decision to offer customers a repair or replace for purchased items is technically a recall.
“Product safety is the highest priority for IKEA and IKEA chests and dressers are safe when attached to the wall as directed in the assembly instructions,” an Ikea spokeswoman told the Daily Mail.
The company is offering customers a free kit to attach chests and dressers over a certain height to the wall. It has also reminded consumers to always affix taller items to the walls.
Malm three-drawer chest of drawers
It comes following the deaths of two young boys in the US last year. A two-year-old in West Chester, Pennsylvania, died after he was pinned against his bed in February 2014 when a Malm six-drawer chest fell on him.
Another child, a 23-month old boy from Snohomish, Washington, also died when he was trapped underneath a three-drawer Malm chest after it tipped over.
Malm chests, sold since 2002, come in a variety of sizes and range in price from £29 to £100.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
