Your Dining Chair: A Hidden Hazard? Crate & Barrel's Rouka Recall

Imagine, for a moment, settling down for a quiet dinner or perhaps a lively brunch, only to have the very chair beneath you suddenly give way. Not just a wobble, mind you, but a leg snapping, sending you tumbling. Sounds rather unsettling, doesn't it? Well, in truth, that's precisely the scenario behind a recent and rather important recall from Crate & Barrel, a brand many of us associate with quality and modern design.

The culprit here is the 'Rouka' dining chair. And yes, you heard right, the legs on these seemingly sturdy chairs have been, unfortunately, breaking right off. This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it's a fall hazard, plain and simple, leading to some rather painful injuries for those caught unawares.

Health Canada, the diligent watchdog of our consumer safety, put out the alert on June 12th, urging owners of these specific chairs to take immediate action. What's concerning, truly, are the numbers: ten incidents right here in Canada, with two people actually sustaining injuries — think bruises, scrapes, the kind of bumps no one wants. Across the border, in the U.S., the situation is similar, with seventeen reported incidents and five injuries. So, this isn't an isolated fluke; it's a pattern.

Now, how do you know if your stylish dining setup includes one of these potentially problematic pieces? The 'Rouka' dining chairs were sold by Crate & Barrel from about July 2022 through to March 2024. If you flip your chair over, you might find the style number, which is 252-031. In Canada, the specific UPC to look for is 193019010123. If that number, or indeed the overall look, matches what you have, then it's time to pause.

What to do, then, if you discover you own one of these chairs? The directive is quite clear, and frankly, absolutely essential: stop using the chair immediately. Seriously, don't risk it. Once it's out of commission, your next step is to reach out to Crate & Barrel directly. They're offering a full refund or, if you prefer, a merchandise credit for the value of the chair. It's their responsibility, of course, to make this right.

Ultimately, this recall serves as a potent reminder that even trusted brands can, at times, have a product miss the mark. Our homes should be havens, safe and secure, and certainly, a dining chair should provide a stable seat. So, please, if you have a 'Rouka' chair, take a moment to check; your safety, and perhaps your next meal, depend on it.