Of all the risks associated with using insulated food and beverage containers, permanent vision loss would probably rank pretty low on most people’s list, but according to a series of consumer reports, it’s a real possibility. At least 27 people have filed complaints claiming to have suffered laceration injuries when the caps violently ejected from the containers upon opening them.
Several models from Thermos’ Stainless King Food Jar and Sportsman Beverage Bottle lines reportedly feature a design flaw that can have dramatic consequences for users. The danger stems from the stoppers designed to prevent leaks and retain heat. If perishable food or beverages are stored for an extended period, pressure builds up and can cause the cap to violently eject when the container is opened.
Unlike other insulated containers, these faulty models don’t have a pressure release valve, which can cause the stoppers to pop out at high velocity, hitting and injuring users. Of the 27 complaints from people claiming to have suffered lacerations as a result of using Thermos containers, three have reported “permanent vision loss”.
Thermos has already announced a recall of more than 8 million containers as a result of the above-mentioned consumer reports, acknowledging that the design flaw “can result in serious impact injury and laceration hazard.” According to the company website, the products affected by this recall were sold between March 2008 and July 2024 at Target, Walmart and other stores across the United States, as well as online at Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com and Thermos.com
For the time being, Thermos is only processing compensation claims and replacements for affected customers in the United States.
