TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A children’s play kitchen is being recalled due to a tragic incident in 2023 where a young boy’s shirt got stuck on a hook, leading to his death by strangulation.
The recall, announced on July 31, 2025, targets the KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchen as per a release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Approximately 192,000 of these play kitchens were sold across the U.S., with an additional 12 units in Canada. These were available for purchase online at KidKraft.com, Amazon.com, and Walmart.com from 2018 until July 2025, priced between $120 and $270.
“These items present a strangulation and asphyxia risk, along with the potential for serious injury or death to small children who might climb on the counter or crawl through the back opening of the play kitchens,” the release highlighted.
Authorities noted that children’s clothing can become ensnared on metal hooks designed to hang toy accessories like pots and pans. This play kitchen is intended for children aged 3 and above, according to the company.
In February 2023, a nearly 2-year-old boy from Oregon got entangled on one of these hooks while attempting to climb through the play kitchen’s back. Officials reported that the child was unable to free himself, leading to his death from strangulation and asphyxia.
KidKraft, Inc., the company that originally manufactured the play kitchens, filed for bankruptcy in May 2024. Backyard Kids has since taken over and has agreed to provide free replacement hooks to all customers who purchased the recalled products.
Anyone who does have one of the play kitchens should stop using it immediately and remove the hooks, the CPSC said.
Consumers can contact Backyard Kids for free replacement hooks by calling 800-882-0234 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or sending an email to recall@kidkraft.com.
Replacements can also be requested online. To find out more information, click here.
