Walmart recently announced a safety recall of the Ozark Trail 64 oz stainless steel insulated water bottle. This is an encouraging step taking action in response to grave safety concerns. What prompted the recall? The recall was prompted after consumers reported various injuries after using the product. In fact, two people even experienced permanent vision loss after the lid violently ejected. CPSC acknowledged the dangers of the water bottle. They found high-severity impacts and risk of laceration related to the product’s use.
The new Ozark Trail water bottle features a beautiful stainless steel base with a metallic silver finish. It features a durable black, one-piece screw cap lid. Its model number is 83-662. You won’t find that on the product itself bubble, but rather the packaging that contains the bottle. What was originally marketed to consumers as a hydration adventure water bottle has now become a source of caution and concern.
Since the recall announcement was issued by the CPSC, consumers should stop using the 64-ounce water bottle right away. The voluntary recall decision impacts about 850,000 units that have been sold across multiple Walmart locations. According to OSHA, Walmart has reported three injuries associated with the product. Injuries have been documented from several of these crashes. Some consumers experienced impact directly to the face, causing traumatic injuries. Others have experienced more serious incidents resulting in permanent vision loss.
“forcefully eject” – U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
The CPSC described how the caps of these bottles can “violently explode,” issuing a lot of danger to those who use them. As a safety measure, any customer who currently owns this water bottle should return it to Walmart for a full refund. This important measure is intended to protect customers from harm and stop them from being exposed to the product when it poses an unreasonable risk.
“serious impact and laceration hazards” – U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission