A popular kitchen item sold in major Australian stores over a 13-year period has been urgently recalled after three customers were left permanently blind by the product's lid. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) published the recall notice, covering all Thermos Stainless King Food Jars manufactured between July 2009 and December 2022.
Recall Details
The affected containers, model numbers SK3000 and SK3020, lack a pressure release valve on the stopper. This design flaw can cause pressure to build inside the jar, forcing the stopper under the lid to eject forcefully when opened. Thermos has received 27 complaints globally of customers being struck by the stopper, with some requiring medical attention. In the United States, three customers suffered permanent vision loss after being hit in the eye.
Where the Product Was Sold
The recalled food jars were sold at major Australian retailers, including Big W, Bunnings, and Officeworks. Thermos urges customers to immediately stop using affected products and check for the fault.
How to Identify Affected Products
The ACCC provided guidance: customers should check the underside of the stopper to see if it has a pressure relief feature. If no pressure relief feature is present under the stainless-steel lid, the product is affected. Customers can order a free replacement stopper online from Thermos by providing contact details and a photo of the affected stopper. Replacements are expected to be available in July. Customers are advised to dispose of their old stopper as soon as it is identified.
Currently sold versions of the Thermos Stainless King Food Jars are not affected by the recall and have a safe stopper. This recall follows a similar incident last month involving a Kmart hot beverage container, which was pulled from shelves due to lid threading issues that could cause the lid to pop off forcefully.
