Thermomix in hot water

JOHN ROLFE THE Australian distributor of the Thermomix has confessed to misleading owners and will be hit with a fine which could run into millions of dollars.

Thermomix In Australia (TIA) has also admitted to knowing nine women and a child had been burnt by its pricey appliance before it decided a public safety warning was necessary.

TIA has conceded a further legal breach for taking up to 1200 days to report serious injuries to the Federal Government when the time limit is two days.

Consumer group Choice said the admissions – disclosed in court documents obtained by News Corp Australia – show a “reckless approach to product safety”.

Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey said the revelations “should come as a warning to anyone looking to purchase a Thermomix product”.

About 200,000 households have a Thermomix TM31, which cost $2000 each.

Choice raised the alarm about the cookers, publishing an investigation in May 2016 that catalogued 83 incidents involving TM31s and four about the newer TM5. TM31 owners reported hot food or liquid spitting from the mixing bowl, which was meant to be sealed shut.

In June this year the Australian Competition and Consum- er Commission filed Federal Court proceedings against TIA alleging breaches of the Competition and Consumer Act.

The ACCC accused TIA of misleading users and prospective purchasers by publicly denying there had been a safety recall on the TM31. In a 2016 media release, TIA had said the TM31 had never been subject to a product recall and was “absolutely safe”.

This was despite a voluntary recall notice being published on the government’s recalls website in October 2014 that said the original grey sealing ring had to be replaced with a new green one because a “potential product defect could lead to a scald or burn for the user if liquid or food splashes out of the mixing bowl”.

In its formal response to the allegation TIA now admits there had been a recall.

TIA also admits to 14 late notifications of serious injuries. One was 1201 days over- due; another was 578 days late.

“TIA concedes the ACCC is entitled to relief in relation to the recall representation issues and the late submission of mandatory reports and will cooperate with the ACCC,” TIA’s response to the court says.

The ACCC and TIA are due to face off over the matters still in dispute in the Federal Court in Melbourne from April 9 next year. If TIA loses it could be hit with millions of dollars more in fines.