BlendJet Inc. is recalling about 4.8 million portable blenders sold at Costco, Target and Walmart after receiving reports of broken blades and the product overheating or catching fire, resulting in dozens of injuries.
The Benicia, Calif.-based company has heard of 329 incidents in which the blades of BlendJet 2 portable blenders broke off during use and an additional 17 reports of overheating or fires, resulting in approximately $150,000 in property damage, according to a release. Dollars have been released on Thursday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
BlendJet has also received 49 reports of minor burns and a cut.
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“Although none of the reported incidents resulted in serious injury or significant property damage, out of an abundance of caution, our company updated the base of the BlendJet 2 to include thicker blades and an improved electrical configuration,” BlendJet said in a press release. The updates were incorporated many months ago, it said.
Consumer Reports had a slightly different opinion, noting that safety concerns were raised with the CPSC and BlendJet in August about the recalled blenders. “In an injury complaint, a consumer reported that the blender began smoking while it was plugged in, and the complainant's son reportedly burned his finger when unplugging it,” CR explained.
“BlendJet should publicize this recall as widely as possible in the new year, and we urge the company to offer people a refund if they do not feel comfortable getting a replacement,” said William Wallace, deputy director for security policy at CR. said in an emailed statement Thursday.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
The recalled product, manufactured in China, was sold in stores and online nationwide from October 2020 to November 2023 for between $50 and $75. The recalled blenders are offered in various colors and designs and contain serial numbers with the first four digits between 5201 and 5542. Consumers can also identify the mixers here.
Consumers are urged to stop using the blenders and contact BlendJet for a free base unit replacement, according to the CPSC notice. People who purchased the recalled product must remove and cut the base's rubber gasket and send an email or upload a photo to the company's website.
BlendJet 2 blenders with serial numbers beginning with “5543” or higher will not be recalled because they already have updated components, BlendJet said.
In addition to the 4.8 million recalled blenders sold in the United States, another approximately 117,000 were sold in Canada.
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Kate Gibson