IKEA recalled 29M dressers — but only after China forced its hand

IKEA's Malm chests and dressers were prone to tipping over if not anchored to a wall. Between 2014 and 2016, three toddlers in the United States were killed when Malm dressers fell on them. Despite knowing about the hazard since at least 2014, IKEA did not issue a full recall until June 2016 after the third death.

When the recall was announced in July 2016, IKEA excluded China and Europe — offering only free wall-anchoring kits in those markets. The decision triggered a firestorm of criticism in China, where consumers accused IKEA of treating Chinese safety differently from American safety. State media joined the condemnation, and the Shanghai Consumer Council intervened.

After two weeks of escalating pressure, IKEA relented and extended the full recall to China on 12 July 2016. The recall covered 29 million dressers globally. IKEA paid over $50 million to settle wrongful death lawsuits with the families of the three children. The incident became a textbook case of a company learning that a two-tier safety standard is unsustainable in a connected world.