Dozens of burns victims have come forward as part of a push to crack down on some alleged dangers of the Thermomix kitchen appliance.
The consumer group Choice has filed a mass incident report with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission claiming Thermomix has downplayed safety concerns, and put the blame for the injuries back on users.
The cases of 45 people, who say they've been injured while using the Thermomix kitchen appliance, form part of what's thought to be Australia's first mass incident report to the national regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
They're among a total of 87 complaints submitted, most of which relate to the TM31 model which was recalled in October 2014.
Of the people who say they were injured by the product, 18 reportedly required treatment from nurses or doctors and eight were hospitalised.
One victim was treated in a specialist burns unit for three weeks.
Tom Godfrey from consumer group Choice, which filed the report with the ACCC, spoke about the nature of some of the injuries.
"The burns were very severe. Obviously those six people who were being treated in a burns unit. The burns are just horrific. When you speak to the victims, it has really had a massive impact on their lives. It had a massive impact on their families. We've been speaking to one breast-feeding mother who is in great distress. Another lady who's had severe facial burns - and her eyes were only saved because she was wearing glasses. When this machine fails, it fails catastrophically."
Tom Godfrey says the speed and temperature at which the appliance operates means these were accidents waiting to happen.
"The stories that we're hearing are from reasonable, foreseeable misuse through to just the product failing. So, the issues range from relating to the green sealing ring, the lid unlocking or opening, but also the measuring cup coming off and hot liquid exploding across the kitchen.
The Choice report also alleges Thermomix manufacturers attempted to blame victims and downplay the danger the product presents.
The advocacy group says it is deeply concerning that, in a number of cases, when the company was informed of an incident they blamed the consumer by classifying the product's failure as 'user error'.
"Thermomix's approach to clients, Thermomix's approach to customers has been appalling - from bullying them, forcing them to sign non-disclosure agreements and gag orders before they're given their basic refund rights. It's just not on."
In a statement, Thermomix Australia says the safety, wellbeing and support of customers is and always will be the company's highest priority.
Thermomix says it has always fully cooperated with the ACCC and would continue to do so.
It goes on to say that it does not wish to prejudice the outcome of the ACCC's review by commenting further.
Choice filed the report with the intention of having a safety warning issued.
The ACCC says it is working with Thermomix to learn more about each individual case and deliver a verdict as soon as possible.
