November 20, 2008: IKEA IRIS and ALVINE Roman Blinds Recall

Recall Reason

According to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), IKEA Home Furnishings is voluntarily recalling about 670,000 units of its IRIS and ALVINE Roman blinds. Strangulation can occur if a child places his or her neck in an exposed inner cord on the back side of the Roman blinds.

The CPSC reports one incident: On April 4, 2008, a one-year-old girl in Greenwich, Connecticut, became entangled in the inner cord of an IKEA Roman blind and was strangled. The child was in a portable playpen that was located underneath a fully lowered roman blind. She was found partially suspended with the inner cord of the blind wrapped twice around her neck.

In light of this and other recent cord-related accidents, the CPSC reminds consumers to examine all Roman blinds and shades in their homes. If looped pull cords are present or exposed inner cords are found on the backs of blinds or shades in your home, please consider replacing them with blinds or shades that do not have exposed pull cords or inner cords. Read more about blind cord safety here.

Do You Own These Shades?

Click here to read the official release.

This recall involves all sizes of IRIS and ALVINE Roman blinds in white. The blinds have a sewn-in label at the top edge of the blind with the IKEA logotype, article name (IRIS or ALVINE), five-digit supplier number 19799 or 21369, four-digit date stamp, and the words "Made in India." On the bottom edge of the blind there is a sewn-in orange/white safety warning label. The blinds are made from 100 percent cotton.

Manufactured in India, the blinds were sold at IKEA stores nationwide from July 2005 through June 2008 for between $7 and $30.

Whom to Contact

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Roman blinds and return them to any IKEA store to obtain a full refund. For additional information, contact IKEA toll-free at 1-888-966-4532 any time or by visiting the company's website at www.ikea-usa.com