Five million appliances recalled from Walmart, Target and Costco, after reports of fires and lacerations

Nearly 5million blenders are being recalled from popular retailers like Target and Walmart after people reported the appliances were catching fire and blades were breaking off, injuring users. 

BlendJet Inc. issued a voluntary recall of 4.8million of its BlendJet 2 Portable Blenders on Thursday.

The California-based company has received 329 reports of blades breaking off while in use and an additional 17 reports of the blenders overheating or catching fire, which has resulted in property damage claims of $150,000. 

The company has also received 49 reports of minor burns and one report of a laceration injury. 

The portable blenders are sold at Costco, Walmart, Target and other major retailers across the US, as well as online at the company’s website. 

The recall, called along with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), also applies to more than 110,000 products sold in Canada.  

BlendJet Inc. issued a voluntary recall of 4.8million of its BlendJet 2 Portable Blenders

The California-based company has received 329 reports of blades breaking off while in use

Affected appliances were sold between October 2022 and November 2023 and cost between $50 and $75. 

The company’s portable blenders are compact battery-operated blending devices that allow users to blend smoothies or shakes on-the-go and its blending jar doubles as a drinking cup.

The products are operated by a push button and are charged using a USB cable. 

In a statement, BlendJet Inc. said: ‘BlendJet created the portable blender category to enable consumers to make and consume healthy food on the go. We continue to hold ourselves to rigorous quality and safety standards as we help our dedicated customers live longer, healthier lives. 

‘In the small number of cases referenced in BlendJet’s joint recall announcement with the CPSC, the performance of certain BlendJet 2 units did not meet the company’s or our customers’ expectations. 

‘While 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 feature thicker blades and an improved electrical configuration. 

‘These updates were incorporated many months ago into all BlendJet 2 devices manufactured by the company.’

Customers with the affected product should immediately stop using it and contact BlendJet, which is replacing faulty products with updated versions for free. 

The portable blenders are compact battery-operated devices that allow users to blend smoothies or shakes on-the-go

While the company has just issued a recall, Consumer Reports raised a red flag over the portable blenders in August. 

Consumer Reports set out to evaluate the blender over the summer based on customer reviews and complaints filed to CPSC and the Better Business Bureau, which has received other reports of the blender’s charging wire melting, battery catching fire and blades breaking off. 

CR put the product through its durability tests and ‘the blender’s blade assembly broke off completely.’  

In August, CR wrote it was ‘advising consumers to exercise caution’ when using the portable blender.

Ashita Kapoor, CR’s associate director of product safety, said: ‘We are concerned by the number of complaints and the severity of issues consumers are reporting about the BlendJet 2. 

‘Combined with what we saw in our labs, the data has prompted us to ask the government to take a closer look at this product and to advise consumers to be aware of the safety issues raised.’ 

Consumer Reports urged the CPSC to investigate the safety of the product. 

A CPSC spokesperson said at the time: ‘We are aware of reports of incidents involving this product. However, we cannot comment regarding investigations or enforcement.’

And a BlendJet spokesperson told Consumer Reports at the time the devices were safe when used as intended.