Related videos:
The manufacturer of thermal containers for food and beverages, Thermos LLC, ordered the recall of 8.2 million units in the United States after receiving 27 reports from consumers who were struck by caps that were forcefully ejected upon opening the products, a defect that resulted in permanent vision loss for three individuals.
The measure was driven by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which issued the official recall notice on April 30.
The entity clearly described the danger: "If perishable food or beverages are stored in the container for an extended period, the cap may be forcefully ejected when opened, which can cause severe impact injuries and lacerations to the consumer."
The recall encompasses approximately 5.8 million Stainless King food jars and 2.3 million Sportsman food and beverage bottles, all sold at a price of around 30 dollars.
The problem lies in a design defect: "The cap on the affected jars and bottles does not have a pressure relief valve in the center," as noted by the CPSC.
When perishable food or beverages are stored for an extended period, internal pressure builds up, which can cause the cap to pop off forcefully and strike the user in the face when the container is opened.
Thermos confirmed that it had received 27 reports of incidents, "including injuries that required medical attention," and specified that three consumers "reported permanent loss of vision after being hit in the eye."
The affected models are the Thermos Stainless King bottles (SK3000 in 16 oz and SK3020 in 24 oz, manufactured before July 2023) and the Thermos Sportsman bottles (SK3010 in 40 oz, all units).
The containers were sold in various colors and in sizes of 16 oz (model SK3000), 24 oz (model SK3020), and 40 oz (model SK3010).
The model number is printed on the bottom of the container and the Thermos brand is displayed on the side.
The products were sold between March 2008 and July 2024 in physical stores such as Walmart and Target, and on online platforms such as Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com, and Thermos.com.
Authorities urge owners to stop using the products immediately and to contact the company for a free replacement.
Owners of the SK3000 and SK3020 models should dispose of the defective cap and send a photo to Thermos to receive a replacement pressure relief cap at no cost.
Owners of the SK3010 model must return the complete product using a prepaid shipping label provided by the company, and they will receive a replacement bottle (model SK3030).
For more information, consumers can call 662-563-6822 Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central Time, or visit the Thermos support site.
This recall is not an isolated case. In July 2025, Walmart recalled approximately 850,000 Ozark Trail 64 oz bottles due to an identical defect: the screw-on cap could be forcefully ejected due to built-up internal pressure, resulting in three incidents of facial injuries, two of which led to permanent vision loss.
Both cases reveal a troubling pattern in stainless steel thermal containers that lack proper pressure release valves, a design flaw that the CPSC has classified as a risk of "serious impacts and lacerations."
In recent months, there have been other product recalls due to health risks in the United States, including the recall of millions of bottles of eye drops in pharmacies and the recall of over a million bags of shredded cheese due to possible contamination, which reflects an increasing vigilance by the CPSC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over mass consumer products.
The CPSC published the official notice of the Thermos recall with identification number 26-444, available on the official federal commission website, where consumers can check if their products are included in the alert.
Filed under: