Lid flew open while she was cooking dinner.
A Thermomix machine burst open and caused second-degree burns to the chest, arms and stomach of a Perth woman while she was preparing dinner in January.
It now appears that this is not the first patient to present with burn injuries from a Thermomix incident, according to Fairfax Media. While Danika Jones was in hospital, medical staff told her other patients had presented with burns due to the seal coming off.
“So many people use a Thermomix and they need to know how unpredictable they can be and how dangerous they can become when they malfunction,” Ms Jones said.
Ms Jones was cooking a pasta sauce in her Thermomix when the lid flew open and splattered burning hot liquid all over her upper body.
“I had popped the pasta sauce ingredients in the Thermomix using the same recipe I’ve used every week since I bought the machine more than two years ago,” she told Fairfax.
“Towards the end of the process, it was pureeing the sauce when it started making a funny noise and vibrating. I walked over to turn it off and as I did that, it just exploded, the lid blew off and hot liquid went everywhere, all over me. The pain was intense.”
Ms Jones was rushed by ambulance to the hospital burns unit for extensive treatment.
She recently had the sealing ring replaced by the manufacturer following a nation-wide recall of the Thermomix TM31 model.
In October 2014, the model was recalled over claims that, in rare circumstances, liquid or food may splash out of the mixing bowl when the user switches it from a high speed to the ‘lid open’ position.
The supplier claimed replacing the seal would eliminate the potential risk.
Ms Jones is now urging Thermomix to introduce a full recall of the TM31 model, and is warning other users to be aware of its potential dangers.
Slater and Gordon lawyer Nakkie Le Roux said the firm was investigating a claim on behalf of Ms Jones.
“Danika has suffered serious injuries despite following the manufacturer’s instructions while using her Thermomix,” she said.
“Preparing meals in a Thermomix has become an everyday activity in many kitchens all over Australia and it is very concerning that such an incident has occurred.”
Jones said she no longer uses her Thermomix and struggles to cook food in her oven out of fear of being burnt.
Thermomix said it was aware of the incident and was continuing to try and work with Ms Jones to investigate the matter and unfortunately like some manufacturers appears to be suggesting that the customer was at fault.
“Unfortunately, Ms Jones has declined our requests to investigate the appliance,” a statement from Thermomix said.
“Without a thorough investigation of the appliance, the manufacturer is unable to determine the cause of this incident. Unfortunately, on occasion the appliance can be used incorrectly.”