Thermos recalls 8.2 million food jars and bottles after stopper defect causes blindness in three consumers

Key facts

• Thermos recalls 5.8 million Stainless King Food Jars (SK3000, SK3020) and 2.3 million Sportsman Food & Beverage Bottles (SK3010).
• 27 reports of stoppers forcefully ejecting upon opening, causing impact and laceration injuries.
• Three consumers suffered permanent vision loss after being struck in the eye.
• Products sold from March 2008 to July 2024 at Target, Walmart, Amazon.com, and other retailers.
• Stoppers lack a pressure relief mechanism, allowing pressure to build with perishable contents stored for extended periods.
• Consumers can receive a free replacement stopper or bottle; contact Thermos via phone (662-563-6822) or website.
• Recall issued by Thermos L.L.C. of Schaumburg, Illinois, in coordination with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

A stopper defect that blinds

More than eight million Thermos food containers are being recalled after a design flaw caused stoppers to forcefully eject, leaving three people permanently blind. The recall, announced Thursday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, affects 5.8 million Stainless King Food Jars and 2.3 million Sportsman Food & Beverage Bottles sold over the past 16 years. of consumers struck by stoppers, with injuries ranging from lacerations requiring medical attention to permanent vision loss.

Pressure buildup without relief

The recalled containers lack a pressure-relief mechanism in the center of the stopper, the CPSC stated. When perishable food or beverages are stored inside for an extended period, pressure can accumulate, causing the stopper to eject violently upon opening. The defect poses serious impact and laceration hazards. The recall covers Thermos Stainless King Food Jars model numbers SK3000 (16 oz) and SK3020 (24 oz) manufactured before July 2023, and all Thermos Sportsman Food & Beverage Bottles model SK3010 (40 oz).

Widespread retail distribution

The products were sold in a variety of colors at major retailers including Target and Walmart, as well as online through Amazon, Thermos’s own website, and other sites. The Thermos trademark is printed on the side of each container, and the model number is on the bottom. The recall spans containers sold from approximately March 2008 through July 2024, indicating a long-standing defect that went undetected for years.

Remedies for consumers

Consumers are instructed to stop using the recalled food jars and bottles immediately. For the SK3000 and SK3020 food jars, users must discard the stopper and send a photo of the disposed stopper to Thermos to receive a free replacement pressure relief stopper. For the SK3010 bottles, consumers must return the entire bottle to Thermos using a prepaid shipping label to obtain a replacement bottle. Thermos can be contacted online at support.thermos.com or via phone at 662-563-6822 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

A pattern of consumer product hazards

The Thermos recall is one of several recent CPSC actions addressing serious safety risks. The commission also announced recalls for toddler tower stools that can collapse or tip over, posing entrapment and fall hazards; gas ranges with delayed ignition that can cause oven doors to burst open; and tea kettles whose handles can detach during use, causing burns. The CPSC, established over 50 years ago, estimates that consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually in deaths, injuries, and property damage.

What comes next for affected consumers

Thermos has not disclosed how many of the 8.2 million affected units remain in use, but the recall applies to all models meeting the criteria regardless of purchase date. Consumers who have experienced injuries are urged to report them to the CPSC. The company has not announced any changes to current production models, but the recall suggests that future Thermos containers will incorporate pressure relief mechanisms as standard.

A costly oversight with lasting consequences

The permanent vision loss suffered by three individuals underscores the severity of a defect that might have been dismissed as a minor inconvenience. The recall, affecting millions of units across a 16-year sales window, raises questions about Thermos’s quality control and the adequacy of pressure testing for sealed containers. For the company, the financial and reputational costs are likely to be substantial, but for the victims, no remedy can restore their sight.

The bottom line

• Thermos recalls 8.2 million food jars and bottles due to stoppers that can forcefully eject, causing serious injury.
• Three consumers suffered permanent vision loss from being struck in the eye by ejected stoppers.
• The defect is a missing pressure relief mechanism in the stopper, allowing pressure buildup with perishable contents.
• Products were sold at Target, Walmart, Amazon, and other retailers from 2008 to 2024.
• Consumers can get free replacement stoppers or bottles by contacting Thermos; instructions vary by model.
• The recall highlights broader consumer product safety issues, with the CPSC overseeing recalls for multiple hazards.