Nearly 5 million BlendJet 2 Portable Blenders are on the recall list due to significant hazards, including fires and potential lacerations from broken blades. In a concerted effort to prevent further injuries, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on Thursday, as reported by NBC San Diego. The BlendJet 2's alarming propensity to overheat, catch on fire, and its blades snap mid-use has led to this large-scale recall effort.

So far, the defective units have chalked up around $150,000 in property damages and caused multiple burns and injuries, such as a user sustaining a laceration, per the CPSC data. These blenders, numbering approximately 4.8 million in the U.S. and an additional 117,000 in Canada, have been sold at major retailers including Costco, Walmart, and Target, as well as online from October 2020 through November, fetch between $50 and $75 each.

Consumers who currently own these appliances are directed to cease their use immediately and contact BlendJet for a no-cost replacement of the blender's base unit. As part of the replacement process, customers are advised to disassemble their unit, specifically instructed to cut the base's rubber seal and provide photographic evidence of these actions to validate their claims. This protocol has been established to ensure defective units are fully decommissioned, as stated in BlendJet's statement, obtained via the CPSC.

Despite the overwhelming numbers, BlendJet is confident that this recall does not affect their latest BlendJet 2 models currently available for purchase. According to the company, these have "updated components," including "thicker blades and an improved electrical configuration." This prevention measure was instituted many months prior in all units manufactured subsequently to mitigate the risks that spurred the current crisis. To determine if a particular blender falls under this recall, consumers can verify their blender's status via the BlendJet website or by contacting the company directly. As the Benicia, California-based manufacturer states, blenders with serial numbers beginning with "5543" or higher are considered safe and excluded from the recall.