An urgent recall has been announced for approximately 850,000 stainless steel water bottles sold at Walmart, following incidents that resulted in two individuals suffering permanent blindness.
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.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that these 64-ounce bottles can experience a pressure build-up when food or beverages are stored inside, leading to the lid suddenly being ejected.
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.
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.
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.
