SINGAPORE — A woman in Singapore said that she discovered an insect infestation in some baskets she had bought at Swedish homeware giant Ikea recently.

Voicing her unhappiness on TikTok, user “wlr1002” on Wednesday (Dec 14) posted a video detailing her unpleasant encounter with the Knipsa basket.

She said in the video that she had bought six of the baskets for her nursery but discovered the insects, which she did not identify, upon getting home.

She called Ikea regarding the issue, but was met with what she deemed to be an unsatisfactory response. She said an Ikea staff member told her that the insects were from her house.

In a separate TikTok video, the customer also uploaded a screenshot of an email reply she said that she had received from Ikea's customer service department. Ikea had apologised for the inconvenience caused, but it informed her that it was "unlikely this incident is related with the product itself".

This is because Ikea has "procedures to avoid plagues in all warehouses and supply chain". The Ikea warranty does not cover issues pertaining to any plague, according to the email reply. 

Determined to prove that the insects were in fact coming from the basket, the TikTok user made a trip down to an Ikea outlet. 

She took a Knipsa basket on display in the showroom and gave it a few hard whacks. In the video, ant-like insects were shown scurrying across the floor from the basket, in apparent evidence supporting her claim.

In response to TODAY's queries, Ikea Singapore said on Friday that the product, which was previously sold in stores and online, has been temporarily removed from sale here.

Ikea Singapore has launched an internal investigation into the case and the firm has reached out to its product developers at Ikea Sweden for help.

It is also "cross checking mandates and standard operating procedures relating to compliance and audit quality checks on natural fibre products, from the supplier right up to warehousing and selling in the store".

Ikea Singapore has since reached out to the affected customer and offered her a gift card to be used for purchases.

The Knipsa basket, priced at S$32.90 in Singapore, is advertised on the Ikea United States website as being made with a natural material called seagrass. I

One TikTok user commented on the possible cause of the insects.

“These weaved baskets are natural material containing insects and their eggs, that’s why solid plywood is treated with formaldehyde before being sold,” the user wrote in the comments section.

The TikTok video, which garnered almost 100,000 views in two days, received many comments in support of "wlr1002".

One comment read: “The fact that she came down, sat down and WHACKED it #salute.” 

Some people agreed that Ikea Singapore’s customer service could do better, with one saying:. “They better improve their customer service.”

Another TikTok user remarked: “Their customer service hotline is the worst! Feels like talking to a teenager who has no life experience. So frustrating.” 

Others chimed in with their own accounts of what they felt was unsatisfactory service from Ikea.

Some online users claimed to have seen similar insect infestations. One said: “I have some issues, too. I threw it away because I thought it was from my house.”

Another said: “I had that rounded rattan bag that was infested with these insects as well...very traumatising.”

Several TikTok users also professed to have problems with other Ikea products.

One claimed: “I bought a bed recently from Ikea and I had an infestation of such bugs… my walls and floor... was wondering why.”

Another alleged: “Previously, I bought my Dotter bed frame and it was infested with bed bugs… we didn't have a bed bug problem until we bought the bed frame from Ikea.” 

Ikea Singapore urged customers to contact the firm if they had bought the same basket product and were not happy.

"Should any customer feel uncomfortable with owning the same product, they are welcome to bring it back to our store for a full refund or contact the Ikea Customer Contact Centre at +65 6786 6868."

TODAY has reached out to TikTok user "wlr1002" for comment on Ikea's statement.