Thermos is recalling more than 8 million food jars and bottles after a defect caused stoppers to forcefully eject when the containers were opened. The recall includes about 5.8 million Stainless King Food Jars and 2.3 million Sportsman Food and Beverage Bottles.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday that the problem has already led to 27 reports of stoppers striking users, including three people who suffered permanent vision loss after being hit in the eye. Consumers are being urged to stop using the recalled products immediately.
The recalled items include the Thermos 16-oz Stainless King Food Jar SK3000, the 40-oz Sportsman Food and Beverage Bottle SK3010 and the 24-oz Stainless King Food Jar SK3020. Thermos said the products were sold in multiple colors at Target, Walmart, Amazon, Thermos and other sites from March 2008 through July 2024, at about $30 each.
The danger is tied to a design flaw: the containers do not have a pressure-relief mechanism, so pressure can build up when food or liquids are stored inside for an extended period of time. The CPSC said the stopper can forcefully eject if perishable food or beverages are left in the container too long, a risk that spans products sold over more than 15 years through major retailers and online platforms.
The recall is a blunt reminder that a simple lunch container can become hazardous when design and pressure meet in the wrong way. The key question now is not whether the defect exists — Thermos and regulators have already answered that — but how many more consumers may still have the recalled jars and bottles at home.