Popular Thermos product recalled after multiple people blinded

A global recall notice for a popular insulated food container has reached Australia after several people were blinded.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Wednesday issued an alert over Thermos’ 470ml and 710ml Stainless King Food Jars because it “does not have a pressure release valve”.

“Pressure may build up inside the container and may cause the stopper beneath the lid to eject forcefully when opened,” the ACCC said.

It adds users risk “serious injury” if the affected stopper ejects after dozens of incidents were recorded in the United States.

Three people suffered permanent vision loss after the stopper struck them in the eye.

“Check the underside of the stopper to see if it has a pressure relief feature ... located beneath the stainless-steel lid,” the ACCC warned customers.

“If the stopper does not have a pressure relief feature on the base, it is an affected product.”

Anyone with an effected product has been urged to “stop using affected products immediately”. 

King Food Jars without pressure valves were sold at dozens of retailers across Australia between July 2009 to December 2022.

The full list of retailers follows:

• Amazon
• Anazonda
• Aussie Disposals
• Australia Post
• BCF
• Big W
• Blackwoods
• Bunnings
• Catch
• David Jones
• The Good Guys
• Harris Scarfe
• House
• Howards Storage World
• Independent Hardware Group (Mitre 10, Home Timber Hardware, Thrifty-Link, True Value Hardware)
• Kitchen Warehouse
• Matchbox
• Minimax
• Myer
• Officeworks
• Peter’s of Kensington
• Repco
• Snowy’s Outdoors
• Target
• Thermos
• Victoria’s Basement
• What’s Cooking

Anyone with a faulty product has been urged to contact Thermos to arrange a replacement stopper with a pressure valve which is expected to be available by July.