Walmart has recalled approximately 850,000 of its stainless steel water bottles after their lids were found to forcefully eject when opened, causing ‘serious impact and laceration hazards’, including vision loss.
The 640z variant of Walmart’s Ozark Trail-brand insulated water bottles features a one-piece screwcap lid. When the bottle is used to store carbonated or perishable beverages or foods over a period of time, it is said to run the risk of forcefully ejecting its lid once opened.
According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), three consumers have reported injuries after being struck in the face by an ejected lid. Two are said to suffer from permanent vision loss after a lid hit them in the eye.
As of 10th July 2025, the CPSC urges consumers to stop using the bottle ‘immediately’ and claim a full refund from Walmart, either by contacting the company or returning the bottle to their nearest Walmart store.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press, Walmart emphasized that it had “fully cooperated” with the CPSC and the product manufacturer to remove the product from its stores and alert consumers to the potential danger.
“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” the retailer said.
The bottles can be identified by the Ozark Trail logo embedded on the side of the bottle; or by the model number 83-662, but the CPSC clarifies that this does not appear on the product itself.
The recall comes after Walmart revealed that it expected to miss its sustainability goals for 2025, citing such figures as a 6% increase in its use of virgin plastic worldwide. It blames this outcome on a shortage of high-quality PCR, unsuitable legislation and infrastructure, and consumer behaviour.
It was also one of five big brands to leave the US Plastics Pact this year, sparking widespread discussion about whether its initial involvement constituted corporate ‘greenwashing’ – especially as it faces pressure from conservative stakeholders to abandon its sustainability initiatives.
In other safety-related news, the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland have discouraged packaging manufacturers from implementing ‘ocean-bound’ plastics, and other plastics recovered from open environments, into food-contact packaging. Apparently, there is not enough evidence to guarantee the safety of these materials.
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