AN urgent recall has been issued for nearly 850,000 stainless steel water bottles sold at Walmart after horrifying injuries left two people permanently blind.
The screw-top lids on the bottles can suddenly and forcefully shoot off, striking users in the face, federal safety officials warn.
The dangerous bottles were sold under Walmart’s Ozark Trail brand and have been available in stores across the US since 2017.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, pressure can build inside the 64-ounce bottles when food or drinks are left inside, causing the lid to eject unexpectedly.
Three people have been hit in the face by the caps, and two of them lost their vision permanently.
The recall affects the Ozark Trail 64-ounce stainless steel bottles with a silver body, black lid, and the brand logo printed on the side.
The bottle is sold exclusively through Walmart stores across the US and on the retailer’s website for around $15.
They were manufactured in China and imported by Walmart.
The affected bottles are marked with model number 83-662 on the packaging.
CPSC says consumers should stop using the bottles right away due to the serious risk of injury.
Customers can return them to any Walmart store for a full refund.
Photos of the product and details of the recall were posted on the CPSC website.
According to the July 10 notice, the agency says pressure builds when the bottles are used to store perishable contents over time.
In some cases, opening the lid causes a sudden release of built-up pressure.
This leads to the screwcap flying off “with force,” CPSC warned.
So far, no deaths have been reported in connection to the bottles.
However, the two blindness cases are considered severe and irreversible.
Walmart didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
Earlier in June, an electric blanket sold at Walmart was pulled from shelves after reports of it overheating and catching fire.
The MaxKare Electric Blanket, made by China-based Shenzhen Yumo Commerce and Trade Corporation, was sold between June 2021 and November 2024.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/14677027/walmart-water-bottle-recall-leaves-two-permanently-blind/