Walmart Recalls 850K Water Bottles After 2 People Are Blinded

As a proud member of a generation that looked at garden hoses as our primary source of summertime hydration (sometimes it was a Dixie-Cup filled up with "cold" tap water from the kitchen sink), the idea of dropping between twenty to a hundred dollars for a water bottle is less than appealing.

I do completely realize that I'm in a minority when it comes to water bottles.

A recent study found that between 60-85 percent of Americans own a reusable water bottle or more, and that 40 percent of that group preferred a metal (especially stainless steel) water bottle. Some of the most popular reasons for having a reusable metal water bottle (beyond "it looks really cool") include:

• Easy to clean
• No lingering odors or flavors
• Reduced plastic waste
• Recyclable
• Durable and long-lasting
• Temperature regulation
• Versatility in use for hot or cold beverages

Those are some of the pros. The biggest con I can think of at the moment is the risk of permanent blindness if the metal water bottle malfunctions--because that's what has happened and it's the reason there's a huge product recall.

Walmart Is Recalling About 850,000 Sixty-Four Ounce Stainless Steel Water Bottles Due To "Serious Impact And Laceration Hazards"

As a consumer, you're probably wondering exactly what that means. Here's what the US Consumer Product & Safety Commission (CPSC) says:

The lid can forcefully eject, posing serious impact and laceration hazards, when a consumer attempts to open the capped bottles after food, carbonated beverages or perishable beverages, such as juice or milk, are stored inside over time.

This metal water bottle recall involves Ozark Trail 64 ounce Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottles sold with model number 83-662 on the product packaging. The stainless-steel bottles are silver with a black one-piece screwcap lid. They measure 4.41 x 4.41 x 11.5 inches and there is an Ozark Trail logo embedded on the side of the bottle. The model number does not appear on the product.

Walmart Says That There Have Only Been 3 Reports Of Consumers Being Injured

However, when two of those three reported injuries resulted in permanent blindness from being struck in the face by a lid forcefully ejected from these bottles upon opening, a recall alert was initiated by Walmart and the CPSC.

What if you have one?

Walmart says to immediately stop using the recalled water bottles and contact Walmart for a full refund. Consumers can bring the bottle to their nearest Walmart store for a refund.

You can also call Walmart toll-free at 800-925-6278 from 7am-9pm with any questions about this recall.