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By Darlin Tillery
Life & Trends Reporter
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A shopper has issued a warning after a glass spoon she bought from Ikea snapped mid-use and cut her thumb open.
In a post on Reddit, user hollow4hollow explained that she had bought a pair of glass spoons for honey, tea and ice cream, but the first time she used one on creamed raw honey, it had snapped.
Sharing photos of her bloodied thumb, she claimed she hadn't been "exerting any excessive force" when the spoon broke.
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"Just a warning for anyone who has or wants them - they’re not suitable for any kind of pressure, so be careful!" she wrote.
"I’m so sad because I bought them as a treat for myself."
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Reddit users were quick to weigh in, with many sharing similar stories.
One wrote, “I had a severe injury from a glass while falling down the stairs. I would NEVER buy or use something like this and cannot believe it exists.
"Even a little chip on the edge, this could become sharp, and you swallow the pieces. I'm surprised this is available for sale.”
Another agreed, adding, “They break. so. easily. I've accidentally smashed about 4 or 5 of them, I swear… The glass is just so thin. I wish they'd thicken it just a tiny bit.”
'Exceedingly dangerous'
"People saying 'user error' are wild," one commenter declared. "The right types of glass can be very strong; it's crazy that a spoon can't handle a little bit of honey before just shattering like this."
"Contact IKEA," another urged. "These need to be recalled and taken off the shelves. Not to be dramatic, but no glass/ceramic utensils or straws.
"They are exceedingly dangerous."
Glass kitchenware is often promoted as a safer and non-toxic alternative to plastic or coated materials, though it carries trade-offs.
“Knowing that the glass dishes are non-toxic, durable, and eco-friendly makes cooking much more enjoyable,” wrote Leigh Matthews in an article for LeafScore.
At the same time, Matthews noted that glass “is a poor heat conductor,” and its physical properties can limit how it performs under stress.
Durability concerns are also raised in broader discussions about kitchen tools.
Choosing Kitchen Utensils
According to guidance on non-toxic utensils from Let’s Go Green, “Choose utensils that feel solid and well-made. Avoid very lightweight or poorly finished pieces with uneven finishes, rough spots, imperfections, or visible seams.”
While that advice refers primarily to metal utensils, the same principles apply across materials, especially where thin construction can increase the risk of breakage.
Although glass utensils remain popular for their clean look and perceived safety, incidents like this highlight the importance of understanding material limits before use.
Newsweek has reached out to hollow4hollow for comment via Reddit and IKEA via its website. We could not verify the details of the case.
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