Ikea urgently recalls popular item with 'stop using immediately' warning

Furniture giant IKEA has issued an urgent recall for a household product used everyday in homes around the world. The international furniture brand has recalled a popular Ikea-branded garlic press, amid fears small metal fragments could break off into people's food and be swallowed accidentally. The recall affects certain batches of the IKEA 365+ VÄRDEFULL Garlic press in black after the company discovered a manufacturing defect during an internal investigation. According to IKEA, there is a risk that “small metal pieces” may detach from the kitchen tool during use and subsequently be ingested with food, posing a potential safety hazard to customers. The affected garlic presses were sold worldwide, both in store and online, and carry the article number 601.636.02. The kitchen implement also can be identified via date stamps found on the product. Date stamps include 2411 up to 2522 (see below for how to decode IKEA date stamps). The offending presses can also be identified by an IKEA logo marking on the upper handle. Customers who own one of the recalled products have been urged to stop using it immediately and contact IKEA for a full refund, the retailer advised in a statement, before adding that shoppers will not need to provide a receipt or proof of purchase in order to get their money back. A statement on the Swedish furniture house's website also urged any customers who may have loaned or gifted the item to spread the world. In a statement, IKEA - best known for its penchant for Allen keys and ready-to-assemble furniture - apologised for the inconvenience caused by the recall. As well as the shedding garlic press, the Swedish furniture brand has issued a litany of other recalls in recent months. Other recalled items include: Spatula (365+ HJÄLTE): Date stamp 2445 (YYWW) or later is recalled. Power Bank (VARMFRONT): Date stamps 2313, 2316, 2318, or 2319 are recalled due to fire hazards. ÅSKSTORM 40W USB charger dark grey: Article number 60461197 is recalled Mirrors (LETTAN): Affected date stamps before and including 2105. ROSTAD LÖK: Fried onion, 100g, Article number: 302.371.76 Best Before Date: 02-06-2026 – 22-11-2026 BLÅVINGAD fishing game, multicolour: All iterations of this children's toy should be returned to IKEA following reports of small metal rivets coming loose from the painted wooden shapes, presenting a potential choking hazard. Product date stamps: IKEA date stamps run off a Year-Week format. For example: 2411 would mean 2024, week 11. Garlic Press: Stamped on the black plastic handle. Furniture/Other: Usually a 4-digit number on a sticker, often found underneath or on the back of the item. If you are impacted by any of the aforementioned recalls, more information is available via the IKEA website.