The Wooden Roast Dinner Toy, a kitchen playset marketed for young children and sold in John Lewis stores, has been urgently recalled after it was found to breach UK toy safety standards. The Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) issued a formal warning, stating the toy presents a choking risk for children under the age of three.
Manufactured in China, the toy set consists of a small wooden tray, wooden knife, and several miniature wooden food items fastened together using Velcro. During testing, it was found that the fastening system could come loose during normal use, creating small parts that could be accidentally swallowed by babies or toddlers.
Toy Failed Safety Tests and Breaches UK Regulations
The OPSS reported that the product fails to comply with the requirements outlined in the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. According to the official recall notice, the hook and loop fastenings on the toy can detach “during reasonably foreseeable use”, generating small components that present a clear choking hazard.
“The product presents a risk of choking as the hook and loop fastening (Velcro) can detach during reasonably foreseeable use,” said the OPSS in a statement. “These small parts pose a choking hazard to young children, particularly those under 36 months of age who have a natural tendency to explore objects by placing them in their mouths.”
The recall affects all units sold with product code 75610228, available in John Lewis stores between 3 September and 24 November this year. Customers who purchased the item during that period are being urged to return it to any John Lewis branch for a full refund. The toy has been removed from sale and withdrawn from all distribution channels.
A John Lewis spokesperson responded by confirming the withdrawal, saying: “Customer safety is always our priority and we recalled this toy as a precaution in November. Only this specific line is impacted. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience, and are issuing customers full refunds.”
Growing Concerns over Toy Safety This Holiday Season
The John Lewis recall comes amid a wider series of product withdrawals involving children’s toys in the UK, raising broader concerns about safety and quality control in the toy industry during the busy Christmas shopping period.
Just days before Christmas, Orchard Toys and Sainsbury’s/Argos also issued recalls for their Jungle Heads & Tails game, citing similar risks. According to the OPSS, a small cardboard disc mistakenly included in some units posed a “serious” choking hazard to young children. This toy, designed as a matching game with 24 cards and an elephant playing piece, was also deemed non-compliant with the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Last month, John Lewis was also forced to recall two ranges of slider sofas over a potential fire risk, after it was discovered that a button within the recliner mechanism could overheat and malfunction. The company has since contacted all affected customers and arranged for repairs to be made.
These incidents have prompted renewed calls for vigilance among both retailers and parents when it comes to toy safety. The Local Authority Trading Standards advises that consumers should “stop using the playset completely” and keep any recalled items “out of reach of small children.” Shoppers are encouraged to regularly check the official safety notices issued by the OPSS or consult manufacturers’ websites for updates on product recalls.
