It started like any other kitchen task—grab the garlic, reach for the press, and get to work on dinner. But for thousands of IKEA customers, that simple routine may have come with an unexpected hazard. On July 31, 2025, IKEA announced a recall of its IKEA 365+ VÄRDEFULL garlic presses due to a serious safety issue. Small metal pieces can detach from the press during use, posing risks of both laceration and ingestion. In other words, your garlic press might be seasoning your food with more than just flavor.
The affected product is easy to identify. It’s the garlic press with a black rubber handle and a zinc-coated garlic chamber. Only models with the IKEA logo stamped on the upper part of the handle are included in the recall. If you’ve got one of these in your drawer, it’s time to stop using it immediately.
IKEA has received ten incident reports globally, including three cases of lacerations and finger splinters. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in the United States. Still, the risk is real, and IKEA is urging consumers to return the product to any of its stores for a full refund. No receipt is required. If returning it in person isn’t possible, IKEA will provide instructions for safe disposal and refund processing.
The garlic presses were sold between March 2024 and May 2025 for about eight dollars, both in IKEA stores nationwide and online. Approximately 43,830 units were sold in the United States, with another 10,700 distributed in Canada. The product was manufactured in China and imported by IKEA Supply AG of Switzerland.
For assistance, consumers can contact IKEA toll-free at 888-966-4532 between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. More information is also available on IKEA’s website by visiting the product support and recalls section.
Garlic may be good for your health, but metal fragments certainly aren’t.
If you own the IKEA 365+ VÄRDEFULL garlic press, it’s time to retire it from your kitchen.
This is certainly a pressing matter—because that contraption’s more booby trap than kitchen tool.
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