850K Ozark Trail Bottles Recalled As Exploding Lids Cause Permanent Blindness

A stainless-steel water bottle lid rocketed from its base with explosive force, permanently blinding two users in the eye. This incident prompted Walmart to recall 850,000 Ozark Trail 64-ounce insulated bottles sold nationwide since 2017, marking one of 2025’s most urgent consumer safety alerts.

Everyday Dangers Rise

The recall extended beyond bottles to a surge in household product failures. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 3.6 million HydroTech garden hoses rupturing and injuring 29 people, alongside 1.85 million SharkNinja pressure cookers causing over 100 burns. Other cases included Igloo coolers linked to fingertip amputations, Anker power banks sparking fires, and Costco Kirkland Prosecco bottles shattering. With over 350 recalls in 2025, regulators attributed the trend to manufacturing defects and quality lapses, amid product-related injuries costing the U.S. economy more than $1 trillion yearly.

Insulated Bottle Boom

Reusable stainless-steel bottles proliferated after 2020, driven by sustainability pushes and plastic restrictions. Walmart’s Ozark Trail model, priced near $15, became ubiquitous for hiking, commuting, and daily use, with millions sold. Silver in color, 4.41 by 4.41 by 11.5 inches, and marked model 83-662, these double-walled vessels trapped heat and liquids effectively—but also pressure from fermenting contents like juice, milk, or soda.

Pressure Warnings Ignored

Storing perishable drinks led to gas buildup in the sealed insulation, ejecting lids violently without pressure-relief valves. Unlike vented rivals, Ozark Trail bottles offered no escape for the mounting force. The CPSC confirmed three injuries: two permanent vision losses from eye strikes and one case of facial lacerations. Complaints escalated, prompting the July 10, 2025, recall under No. 25-377, which banned resale.

Walmart Recall Response

Walmart pulled stock from stores and its website, offering full refunds at any location without receipts or via online support. Importer Olympia Tools shared responsibility, cooperating with regulators. Walmart expressed concern for safety and pledged reviews of supplier testing to prevent repeats. The action followed patterns in other recalls, underscoring retailer duties when risks emerge.

Vigilance Is Required

As 2025’s recall totals reached decade highs, the Ozark Trail case highlighted vulnerabilities in imported goods from China and everyday designs. Consumer advocates called for pre-market screening and mandatory valves, while victims pursued liability claims for medical costs and impairments. Retailers eyed redesigns, leaving open whether 2026 brings stricter standards amid ongoing supply chain scrutiny.

Sources:
“Walmart Recalls Ozark Trail 64 oz Water Bottles Due to Serious Impact and Laceration Hazards.” U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 10 Jul 2025.
Walmart recalls 850,000 water bottles after customers suffer eye injuries.” USA Today, 11 Jul 2025.
“The Largest Consumer Product Recalls of 2025.” ETQ, 8 Sep 2025.
“SharkNinja Recalls 1.8 Million Foodi Multi-Function Pressure Cookers Due to Burn Hazard.” U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 30 Apr 2025.