Thermomix fined $4.6m for misleading users

By 9Honey|

Appliance company breached consumer laws

Thermomix has been fined $4.6 million for knowingly selling kitchen appliances which had the potential to injure users, lying about the safety of its products, and refusing refunds.

The company's controversial TM31 model was recalled in 2014, following 14 reported cases of users being burned by hot liquids due to a faulty seal.

Lawyers for the appliance company and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) appeared before the Federal Court in Melbourne on Wednesday for a penalty hearing after Thermomix admitted four contraventions of consumer laws.

Justice Bernard Murphy said senior management at the company's Australian arm knew there were issues months before it recalled the product in October 2014.

The company sent an email to its German manufacturers, Vorwerk, on July 7, 2014 containing videos of issues with the TM31.

"In my view it knew, or should have known, earlier than that," Justice Murphy said.

Thermomixes have achieve cult status in Australia. (instagram)

The judge said Thermomix was aware the TM31 mixing bowl lid could move during use, and knew there was a potential for hot liquid to burn and scald users.

In the past three years, numerous people have gone public with their stories of severe burns and scalding from their Thermomixes, which retail for upwards of $2000.

Perth mother Danika Jones was one of the first, reporting that the lid of her device had "exploded" she was cooking, splattering hot pasta sauce all over her upper body.

"The lid blew off and hot liquid went everywhere, all over me. The pain was intense," Jones told Fairfax Media in 2016.

The mother of two was left with second degree burns on her chest, arms and stomach. 

That same year, CHOICE revealed there had been at least 87 separate incidents of Thermomix owners being burned by the cult appliances, which are able to blend and heat ingredients simultaneously.

With AAP
