Perth Mother Severely Burned After Thermomix Explodes

Danika Jones, a mother from Perth, is feeling very sore and surprised after her Themomix unexpectedly burst open when she was using it, causing second degree burns to her chest, arms and stomach.

The popular kitchen appliance, which retails for around $2,000 and is quickly gaining popularity in Australia, malfunctioned while Ms Jones was cooking pasta sauce for her family back in January. She explained what happened to WA Today:

“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 said.

“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.”

The injuries from the burns were so bad that Ms Jones had to be immediately rushed to hospital from her home in Halls Head by ambulance to undergo extensive burns treatment. She describes her surprise when, after returning to the hospital soon after to get her burns redressed, one of the nurses informed her that she was not the first person to have been burnt by the Thermomix.

Ms Jones said the revelation made her angry and concerned, especially as the Thermomix is now such a popular appliance in many homes.

“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.

“Imagine if my kids had been on the kitchen bench [when the appliance malfunctioned].”

Ms Jones Wants A Recall

Interestingly, the Thermomix belonging to Ms Jones had recently had the sealing ring (which appears to be what malfunctioned and caused her burns) replaced. The replacement was a part of a nation-wide recall from the company for the Thermomix TM31 model. The model was recalled in October of 2014 over claims that, in very uncommon situations, liquid or food might come out of the mixing bowl when the user switched the appliance directly from a higher speed to a ‘lid open’ position. According to the Thermomix supplier, replacing the faulty seal would stop any chance of risk, but that is clearly not the case, as Ms Jones has found out.

Now, still suffering from the effects of her run in with the malfunctioning Thermomix, Ms Jones is urging Thermomix to put a full recall of the TM31 model in place. She says that she’s also working to warn other Thermomix users of the potential dangers of the appliance. Due to her injuries, and the fact that she did not use the Thermomix outside of the manufacturers instructions, she is also having law firm Slater and Gordon investigate the claim on her behalf. A lawyer with the firm, Nakkie Le Roux, had this to say:

“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.”

According to statements, Ms Jones is no longer using the Thermomix, and she also struggles to cook food in an oven due to a fear of being burnt.

Thermomix’s Response

In Australia the Thermomix appliances have had an incredibly quick uptake, with around 80,000 of the $2,000 appliances being sold in 2014 alone.

Not surprisingly, Thermomix was quick to respond to Ms Jones’ claims about the dangers of the Thermomix, but their response was typical of a large company looking to protect its interests. Thermomix claimed that they were aware of the incident, and were working with Ms Jones to figure out what had happened.

“Unfortunately, Ms Jones has declined our requests to investigate the appliance,” it read.

“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.”

Such a response may leave many families unsure of what to do with the expensive appliances sitting in their kitchen. For now it appears that the choice is up to you. Despite Ms Jones horrific experience, the risks of the appliance are far from confirmed, although investigations are ongoing.

Do you have a Thermomix? Are you likely to continue using it?