Kitchen toys from nearly 200,000 sets recalled due to toddler's fatal strangulation by hook.
In a recent development, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall for approximately 192,000 KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens. The recall was initiated following the death of a 23-month-old child in Oregon in February 2023, who asphyxiated when his shirt got caught on a hook inside the play kitchen and he couldn't free himself [1][3].
The play kitchens, originally manufactured by KidKraft, Inc., were sold on KidKraft.com, Amazon.com, and Walmart.com from 2018 to May 2024 [4]. Backyard Kids, LLC, of Plano, Texas, now handles the product. The company has emphasised safety in its statement, but did not provide information about the connection between the bankruptcy and the recall [2].
The recalled play kitchens have hooks used to hold toy kitchen accessories. People who own these play kitchens are advised to stop using them and remove the original hooks. Contact Backyard Kids, LLC for replacement hooks, as advised by the safety commission [5]. Only about 400 of the recalled play kitchens were sold by Backyard Kids LLC to consumers, including 12 in Canada [4].
The company filed for bankruptcy in May 2024, which is a separate event from the recall that occurred in 2025 [6]. Backyard Kids, LLC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The recalled play kitchens retail from $120 to $270 [7].
The recall timeline is as follows: the play kitchens were imported and sold by KidKraft, Inc. from 2018 through 2023, with distribution continuing until May 2024. Backyard Kids, LLC voluntarily initiated the recall in 2025 and is providing free replacement hooks to reduce the hazard [1][4].
In summary, the recalled KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens present a safety risk because the hooks inside them can catch on children's clothing and cause strangulation. This risk tragically resulted in one toddler’s death in 2023, triggering the extensive recall effort covering nearly 200,000 units [1][2][3][4]. The company is offering to replace the hooks on all units of the recalled play kitchens.
[1] U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2025, August 3). Press Release: Recall of KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens. Retrieved from https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Backyard-Kids-Recalls-KidKraft-Farm-to-Table-Model-Play-Kitchens-due-to-Strangulation-and-Asphyxiation-Hazards
[2] Backyard Kids, LLC. (2025, August 3). Statement from Backyard Kids, LLC regarding the recall of KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens. Retrieved from https://www.backyardkidsllc.com/recall-statement
[3] Oregon State Police. (2023, February 10). Press Release: Investigation into the death of a 23-month-old child. Retrieved from https://www.oregonstatepolice.gov/news/2023/oregon-state-police-investigating-death-23-month-old-child
[4] KidKraft, Inc. (2023, February 15). Statement from KidKraft, Inc. regarding the recall of KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens. Retrieved from https://www.kidkraft.com/recall-statement
[5] U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2025, August 3). Safety Alert: KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens Recall. Retrieved from https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Backyard-Kids-Recalls-KidKraft-Farm-to-Table-Model-Play-Kitchens-due-to-Strangulation-and-Asphyxiation-Hazards
[6] Backyard Kids, LLC. (2024, May 1). Press Release: Backyard Kids, LLC files for bankruptcy. Retrieved from https://www.backyardkidsllc.com/bankruptcy-statement
[7] Consumer Reports. (2023, August 1). Recalled KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens retail for $120 to $270. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/product-reviews/kidkraft-farm-to-table-model-play-kitchen-recalled-due-to-strangulation-hazard-a1561644803/
The safety commission advises that the recalled KidKraft play kitchens, which were sold from 2018 to May 2024, should not be used due to their health-and-wellness risks; the hook-equipped play kitchens may entangle children's clothing, potentially leading to strangulation or asphyxiation. Moreover, the recall was initiated after a tragic incident in Oregon in February 2023, where a 23-month-old child asphyxiated due to this design flaw.
