Ikea recalls two children’s toys amid choking fears
Small rubber balls on the Lattjo drum sticks and tongue drum, which have been on sale in Hong Kong since November, are potential “choking hazard”
Ikea has issued a worldwide recall of its Lattjo drum sticks and tongue drum amid fears they are a “choking hazard” and urged anyone who bought the toys to immediately remove them from children.
The Swedish furniture giant, which has stores in Hong Kong and Macau, announced the recall after workers in Ikea stores discovered the rubber ball on the drum sticks could fall off or be unscrewed.
The two toys, suitable for children aged six and above, had passed all the standard safety tests. However, the recall was announced after the company received six reports from Ikea employees that identified the choking hazard which had not been covered by the safety standards.
READ MORE: Flat-pack world: China and Russia are Ikea’s fastest growing market as global sales rise to HK$281 billion
The loose rubber ball could attract children and cause choking, the company said.
No incidents with the toys had been reported and the recall was a precautionary measure, it added.
“Despite approved tests to relevant toy safety standards, we are therefore precautionary recalling Lattjo drum sticks and Lattjo tongue drum to avoid the risk of any incidents,” said Cindy Andersen, business area manager for children’s products at Ikea in a statement.
The toys have been on store shelves in Hong Kong and across the globe since November last year.