Thermos has issued a recall covering approximately 8.2 million food jars and beverage bottles after the Consumer Product Safety Commission confirmed that the stoppers in certain models can eject with force when the containers are opened. As of April 30, the company had received 27 reports of consumers being struck by the dislodged stoppers. Three of those consumers suffered permanent vision loss.
The affected products were sold at Target, Walmart, Amazon and other major retailers across the United States for roughly 16 years, from around March 2008 through July 2024. Most were priced at approximately $30 at the time of purchase. The wide sales window means a recalled container could be sitting in a cabinet, a gym bag or a garage that has not been touched in years.
The design flaw behind the Thermos recall
The problem traces back to how the stoppers were manufactured. The affected containers were built without a pressure relief mechanism in the center of the stopper. When food or beverages are stored inside for an extended period, pressure accumulates within the sealed container. Opening the lid releases that pressure suddenly, and without a relief valve, the stopper can be launched outward with enough force to cause serious injury.
The recall covers two product lines. The Thermos Stainless King Food Jar accounts for approximately 5.8 million units, and the Thermos Sportsman Food and Beverage Bottle covers around 2.3 million units. Both lines were manufactured in China and Malaysia and are identifiable by the Thermos trademark printed on their sides.
Which specific models are affected
Consumers should check the bottom of their containers for the following model numbers.
The SK3000 is a 16-ounce Stainless King Food Jar. Units manufactured before July 2023 are included in the recall. The SK3020 is a 24-ounce Stainless King Food Jar, also recalled for units manufactured before July 2023. The SK3010 is a 40-ounce Sportsman Food and Beverage Bottle, and every unit of this model is included in the recall regardless of when it was made.
The containers came in a range of colors, which means appearance alone is not a reliable way to determine whether a specific unit is affected. The model number on the bottom is the only reliable identifier.
What to do if you own a recalled container
The CPSC and Thermos are asking consumers to stop using the affected containers and not attempt to open them before checking the model number. The remedy differs depending on which product is involved.
Owners of the SK3000 and SK3020 food jars will receive a free replacement pressure relief stopper. The process requires discarding the existing stopper and submitting a photo of the disposed stopper to Thermos before the replacement is shipped. Owners of the SK3010 Sportsman bottles will receive a prepaid shipping label to return the entire bottle, after which a replacement will be provided.
Thermos can be reached by phone at 662-563-6822, available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. Additional information is posted at thermos.com and through the support page at support.thermos.com.
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Why the scope of this recall matters
A 16-year sales window is not standard for a product recall. It means the affected containers span multiple generations of household use, gift-giving and secondhand transfers. A jar purchased in 2010 and passed to a college student in 2022 is still a recalled product, and the design flaw that makes it dangerous has been present since the day it was made.
Three people have already lost vision permanently from an action most users would not think twice about. The age of the container does not reduce the risk, and checking the model number on the bottom of any Thermos currently in a home takes under a minute.
