Why These Popular Stainless Steel Bottles Became a Serious Safety Threat

Walmart has recalled 850,000 stainless steel water bottles after reports of severe injuries caused by explosive lid ejections. Here's why these insulated bottles are riskier than plastic soda bottles and what you should do next.

A household essential turned into a safety hazard. Walmart is recalling nearly 850,000 Ozark Trail 64 oz stainless steel insulated water bottles after users reported severe injuries. The issue? The lids can shoot off unexpectedly with dangerous force. In at least three cases, this has led to serious harm, including two people suffering permanent eye damage.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a public alert urging consumers to immediately stop using the bottles and return them for a full refund. The warning comes as more information surfaces about the dangerous physics behind what was once considered just another reusable bottle.

At the core of the problem is how the bottle reacts when used with carbonated or perishable drinks like soda, milk, or juice. These beverages produce gas as they ferment or remain sealed, causing pressure to build up inside the bottle. Normally, this wouldn’t be a concern with everyday plastic soda bottles. But the Ozark Trail stainless steel design lacks the crucial safety mechanisms that plastic bottles are built with.

Plastic soda bottles are made from a flexible material known as PET plastic. They are engineered to hold pressure up to 100 psi and come with threaded caps that slowly release built up gas when opened. That signature fizzing sound when you twist open a soda is not just about the refreshment. It is a built in release of pressure that prevents accidents. The plastic’s elasticity also helps absorb internal pressure, reducing the risk of sudden or violent bursts.

These stainless steel bottles, on the other hand, are rigid and tightly sealed without any way to let out pressure gradually. The result can be a dangerous explosion of force when someone unscrews the lid. If a child or adult happens to be holding the bottle close to their face, the cap can hit them with tremendous velocity, turning a routine sip into a medical emergency.

The recalled bottles have been sold at Walmart locations across the United States since 2017 and are identified by model number 83 662. Given the massive scale of the recall, this incident is raising important questions about how reusable drinkware is tested and what safety measures need to be in place.

Reusable bottles are meant to be safer and more sustainable alternatives to single use plastics. But as this recall shows, poorly designed products without proper pressure management features can actually become more dangerous than the items they aim to replace.

If you or someone you know owns one of these Ozark Trail bottles, it is crucial to stop using it immediately and follow the recall instructions from Walmart or the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A refund is being offered, and your safety should never come second to savings.

This story also serves as a reminder to always be cautious when storing carbonated or perishable drinks in any sealed container, especially those not designed for pressure. Not all bottles are created equal, and sometimes even the most common products can pose hidden risks.

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