The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it’s concerned that millions of recalled cedar chests, still in homes across the country, pose a danger to children. The Commission is urging consumers to immediately replace or remove the latch and lock on recalled “Lane” and “Virginia Maid” brand cedar chests. The cedar chests were recalled because the chest’s lid automatically locks when the lid is closed. In 1996, The Lane Company recalled 12 million cedar chests with latches that automatically locked the lid when it was closed. Fourteen children have suffocated to death inside these cedar chests after becoming locked inside between 1977 and 2015. The old style latches on all “Lane” and “Virginia Maid” brand cedar chests manufactured between 1912 and 1987 should be immediately removed by consumers to eliminate the hazard. United Furniture Industries, Inc. is now distributing the free replacement latch and lock to consumers who own the recalled cedar chests. Consumers who have not received and installed the replacement latch and lock should immediately remove the old latch and lock and contact the company at 877-251-5010.
