Investigation Triggers Play Kitchen Recall Due to Child Fatalities
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall for the KidKraft Farm to Table Model play kitchen, sold under Backyard Kids, LLC, due to design flaws involving hooks that pose a strangulation and asphyxia hazard to young children.
The recall affects approximately 192,000 units sold from 2018 through May 2024. A tragic incident occurred in February 2023 when a 23-month-old child in Oregon died after his shirt got caught on one of the hooks while climbing and crawling through the back opening of the kitchen. The child was unable to free himself and died from strangulation and asphyxia caused by the hooks.
Key safety concerns and risks include strangulation hazard from hooks catching clothing, risk of asphyxia due to entanglement on product hooks, danger when climbing on the counter or crawling through the opening at the back of the kitchen set, and the risk being elevated if the unit is not securely fastened to a wall, creating a gap that children can access and become trapped in.
As a corrective measure, Backyard Kids, LLC, has agreed to provide free replacement hooks designed to be safer for all recalled units. Consumers are urged to stop using the product and contact Backyard Kids for the free replacement parts or for additional safety guidance.
No other reports of injury or garment entanglement have been received beyond the one fatal incident. However, due to the severity of the risk, the recall warns of potential serious injury or death if the product is used without modification.
The recalled kitchens were sold online through major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and KidKraft's website. About 400 of the recalled kitchens came directly from Backyard Kids, and a small number made it into Canada. The units sold for prices ranging from $120 to $270.
This incident serves as a reminder that product testing must evolve as real-world use uncovers hidden dangers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) continues to monitor reports related to toy safety and urges the public to report any concerns.
The model number involved in the recall is 53411. KidKraft, Inc., the original distributor, has filed for bankruptcy, but Backyard Kids, LLC, is now responsible for the recall. The hooks on the toy kitchen sets were meant for holding toy items like pots and pans, but their placement made them a danger if a child entered the structure from behind.
Parents and caregivers are urged to stop using the affected play kitchens immediately and contact Backyard Kids for replacement parts. The CPSC issued the official recall and advised parents to take immediate steps to prevent another incident. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges the public to report any concerns related to toy safety.
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