Urgent recall for over eight million travel mugs over risk of causing blindness

More than eight million Thermos-branded travel mugs have been slapped with an urgent recall notice, after a number of customers were left with serious injuries and even blindness. The alert was issued by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, which warned a dangerous fault could cause the travel mug's lid stopper to violently eject when opened. According to safety officials, when opened, pressure can build up inside the container which, in turn, forces the stopper out with significant force. The malfunction is due to multiple models of containers missing a pressure relief function. The manufacturer has received at least 27 reports of incidents where consumers were struck by the ejecting stopper. Some victims suffered cuts and impact injuries requiring medical treatment. The recall says "Three consumers suffered permanent vision loss after being struck in the eye." It affects two popular product ranges: Stainless King food jars and Sportsman food and beverage bottles. In total, around 5.8 million food jars and 2.3 million bottles are impacted. The affected items were sold in major stores in the US, including Walmart and Target, as well as online via Amazon. They were all sold between March 2008 and July 2024, and were typically priced at around $30. Specific models included in the recall are the Stainless King Food Jars (16oz SK3000 and 24oz SK3020) made before July 2023 and the Sportsman Food & Beverage Bottles (40oz SK3010). The products were sold in a range of colours and featured the Thermos logo on the side. The serial or model number can be found on the bottom of the container. If you have one of the aforementioned dangerous Thermoses, customers are being urged to stop using them immediately, before contacting Thermos directly for a free replacement. For some models, users are advised to dispose of the stopper and provide photographic proof, while others must be returned using a prepaid shipping label. The products were manufactured in China and Malaysia. Anyone with concerns or fears are advised to contact Thermos directly for further guidance, using its website or customer support line.