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Sep 01, 2023

Popular BlendJet Portable Blender May Pose Risks

The battery-powered BlendJet 2, cited in consumer complaints, broke in CR’s durability test Following an examination of consumer complaints, publicly available reviews, and our own recent tests,

The battery-powered BlendJet 2, cited in consumer complaints, broke in CR’s durability test

Following an examination of consumer complaints, publicly available reviews, and our own recent tests, Consumer Reports is advising consumers to exercise caution when using the BlendJet 2, a popular portable blender.

CR decided to evaluate the blender in its labs this summer based on complaints to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Better Business Bureau, in which BlendJet users reported instances of the blender’s charging wire melting, its battery catching fire, and the blades breaking off under regular use. Consumer Reports put the product through a durability test, and the blender’s blade assembly broke off completely.

“We are concerned by the number of complaints and the severity of issues consumers are reporting about the BlendJet 2,” said Ashita Kapoor, CR’s associate director of product safety. “Combined with what we saw in our labs, the data has prompted us to ask the government to take a closer look at this product and to advise consumers to be aware of the safety issues raised.”

Consumer Reports is urging the CPSC to investigate the safety of the product, including whether it is independently certified to applicable safety standards and whether consumers are at an unreasonable risk of injury.

“We are aware of reports of incidents involving this product,” said a CPSC spokesperson. “However, we cannot comment regarding investigations or enforcement.”

Portable blenders are compact battery-powered blending devices whose small size and lightweight design allow consumers to blend smoothies, shakes, and more while on the go. Operated by push-button, they are less powerful than standard blenders, with a blending jar that often doubles as a drinking cup. Their lithium-ion batteries are usually recharged with a USB cable.

BlendJet is among the most popular portable blenders on the market, with online searches for the brand vastly outpacing generic searches. In a response to CR, a BlendJet spokesperson said the blender was safe when used as intended.

CR’s safety experts regularly monitor publicly available government data for incidents associated with everyday consumer products. We noticed three complaints about the BlendJet 2 listed on the CPSC’s saferproducts.gov website that recounted instances where the charging cord melted or smoked. In another case, a user reported that the blender’s lithium-ion battery caught fire, then “exploded and started a larger fire.” Three other complaints reported that pieces of the blender’s blade broke off during use. In one of these cases, it was reported that the user “possibly swallowed” one of the pieces; in another, that a child sucked a small piece of blade through a straw and discovered it in her mouth. Two complaints noted that the blender will operate with the lid off, citing this as a danger to children.

No injuries were reported in 12 total incidents. Complaints date back to February 2022 but have increased in recent months. The BlendJet 2 was introduced in 2020, according to a company press release.

Consumer Reports first tested the BlendJet 2 in August 2022 as part of its blender testing program but decided not to have it remain in the ratings because the blender did not have the standard safety certifications required of products rated by CR. It also did not fit the category qualification of having a cord. Based on CR’s evaluations, the blender was comparatively lower-rated vs. other blenders.

This summer, prompted by consumer complaints, we bought several samples of the BlendJet 2 and ran one through several tests. These included a durability test similar to the one we use for personal blenders. We also observed the BlendJet 2 while charging and during operation.

For our durability test, we place four large ice cubes in the blender. The combined weight of the ice cubes is about 3 ounces. The blender is then run in 1-minute intervals for a total of 45 minutes. There is a break of 7 minutes between each minute of blending in which the ice cubes are replaced, and a 1-hour break each time the blender has completed 15 minutes of blending. Because BlendJet 2 operates on 20-second blend cycles at a time (shorter intervals than a typical personal blender), we blended the ice for 20 seconds three consecutive times to simulate a minute of continuous use. CR recognizes that its durability testing is challenging, but our comparative results underscore that it is feasible to do well.

Our sample blender, which was purchased at Costco, failed toward the end of the test (after 38 minutes of blending) when the blade assembly shaft broke off. Such a failure represents a hazard to users, our tester said.

“Any sharp or pointy object in a liquid for consumption raises concerns, including the possibility of laceration,” said José Amézquita, test project leader of CR’s Rapid Response team. “We believe this is a preventable risk.”

Several times during our test, the BlendJet 2 blades jammed and its red warning light flashed. When unjammed (by turning it upside down, as specified in its instructions) we were able to resume operation.

Amézquita also found the lightweight BlendJet 2 to be unsteady—wobbling slightly—during operation, posing a potential safety concern. “The initial jiggle at the start of a run demonstrates that the product is unstable and may fall off the counter if the user is not aware of it,” he said.

CR also observed the BlendJet 2 while charging. Like many battery-powered products, this blender comes with its own USB cable but no power adapter, so consumers must provide their own.

CR used a 5-volt 2A power adapter that recharged the battery in about an hour. Because consumers often forget to unplug chargers, we left the charger connected to the BlendJet 2 for at least 3 hours using both the provided 1.5-foot cable and a 3-foot cable purchased at a 99-cent store. We also tested the blender using a fast charger (Anker 5V, 2.4A max).

We found the charging process produced some heat in the base, but that dissipated when the battery was fully charged (even with the fast charger). The power button displays a solid blue circle when completed. “There was no visible evidence of a hazard with the blender, cables, or power supplies in our charging tests,” Amézquita said.

Responding to CR’s test results by email, BlendJet spokesperson Ethan Rasiel said that the blender is “not designed, advertised or intended to be used as an ice crusher” and that its user guide clearly states that liquid should be added first, before any solid ingredients such as ice. He pointed to a section in the user guide that advises, “Add liquid first, then throw in your solids.” Two of the CPSC reports of broken blades indicated that the blender contained liquids when the incidents occurred.

Rasiel also said that the BlendJet is designed to work in 20-second blending cycles, which can be repeated if needed for thicker blends. “As such, the BlendJet 2 is intended to be used for a minute or two only, not for continuous blending, even with small temporal breaks between blending sessions,” he said.

While CR also recommends adding liquid first when blending drinks, our durability ice test is specifically intended to create a strenuous and challenging test as a predictor of a model’s durability.

“Years ago, we saw a large number of consumer complaints about early blender breakage and failures,” said Jim Nanni, associate director of appliance testing at CR. “To address these problems, we created the durability test, which stresses the motor, drivetrain, and blade assembly.”

With regard to consumer reports of wires overheating, Rasiel noted that BlendJet’s user guide and other materials explicitly warn consumers to use only high-quality USB chargers (such as those for mobile phones) with either the included USB-C cable or a certified USB-C cable. He said the company did not have enough details to know if the users who complained to the CPSC were using the correct chargers. He also noted that the company has added resettable fuses to both the included cable and the base of the BlendJet for protection should a consumer use a low-quality charging brick.

He also said the company did not have enough details to comment on the report of an exploding battery, such as whether the product was damaged or not used as intended. The company provided a list of tests that the BlendJet 2 conforms to during the time it’s been available for purchase, including the UL 982 safety standard for motor-operated household food preparing machines, and IEC 60335-1, a safety standard for electrical household appliances.

It also noted that the blender’s battery suppliers were awarded certificates of compliance with UL 1642, most recently in July 2022. But when asked specifically if the BlendJet2 was UL certified—that is, subject to ongoing monitoring and testing by an independent, accredited laboratory—Rasiel said, “BlendJet 2 has passed testing conducted by third parties and our own internal tests countless times without failure.”

The BlendJet 2 tested by CR did not bear a certification mark from UL or another recognized lab, nor is the product listed in UL Solutions’ certification directory, which CR also verified in a call to the lab. It does bear a European Conformité (CE) safety seal, a self-certification that the product conforms to EU requirements. But Nanni said, “EU standards are generally not the same as US standards, and self-certification isn’t the same as third-party certification either.”

Addressing consumers’ concerns about children being able to use the blender safely, Rasiel noted that product literature explicitly warns that the blade will spin without the lid on. He also said the blender is not marketed to children and they should not use the device unattended. But a “Disney Collection” featured on BlendJet’s website showcases cartoon motifs and characters that include Mickey Mouse and Olaf from the movie “Frozen.”

Rasiel also pointed out safety features that prevent the blender from being turned on unless the base and jar are properly connected, and a lock mode that prevents it from being turned on inadvertently. He did not address concerns about the blender running with the lid off or tipping over when in use.

“The BlendJet 2 is safe when used as intended and in accordance with the company’s user guide and safety information, which is provided in the product packaging and on BlendJet’s website,” Rasiel wrote. “The results of the test by Consumer Reports are not representative of what consumers should expect from our portable blender when it is used as directed.”

Portable blenders can be convenient and fun, and make tasty drinks, but consumers should practice diligence when purchasing and using them, according to Nanni. “A flashy product or website doesn’t necessarily translate into a good-performing or safe product,” he said. “That’s why our ratings measure performance. And certified products offer a higher level of assurance regarding safety.”

Before buying a portable blender, look for a seal on the packaging and product indicating it is certified to the UL 982 safety standard for motor-operated household food-preparing machines. The seal should indicate an independent certifying organization such as UL, Intertek (ETL), or CSA. Do not rely on assertions from the manufacturer that the product has been tested to those standards. “Asking for a test is not the same as certification,” Nanni said. “Certification is an ongoing process.”

Certification is particularly important in an online marketplace that’s flooded with imitations of popular products. “When it comes to products sold by third-party sellers, imported from foreign countries, or from ‘no-name’ brands, there is no way to confirm that the product is safe to use unless it has been certified as complying with the applicable safety standard,” Nanni said. “This is really a ‘buyer beware’ situation because any potential hazards from storing, charging, or using the product are unknown.” Consumers should also be aware that both certified and uncertified portable blenders are sold at prominent retailers. BlendJet 2 is sold at Costco, Kohl’s, JCPenney, The Container Store, and many online retailers.

Nanni and Kapoor also recommend that consumers consider known brands first because they are likely to offer certified products. When purchasing products made or sold by manufacturers they’ve never heard of, they should be sure to look for a certification label.

“Due to the high volume of products in stores and online marketplaces, it has become even more difficult to ensure products are adequately tested to mandatory and voluntary standards,” Kapoor said. “It’s critical to check for a product’s certification before purchasing, given the high influx of copycat products readily available. It’s now more important than ever.”

Keith Flamer

Keith Flamer has been a multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports since 2021, covering laundry, cleaning, small appliances, and home trends. Fascinated by interior design, architecture, technology, and all things mechanical, he translates CR’s testing engineers’ work into content that helps readers live better, smarter lives. Prior to CR, Keith covered luxury accessories and real estate, most recently at Forbes, with a focus on residential homes, interior design, home security, and pop culture trends.