Supermarket chain H-E-B has issued an urgent safety warning advising customers to immediately stop using certain Kalorik air fryer ovens previously sold at its grocery locations and Joe V’s Smart Shop formats. The advisory follows a federal investigation highlighting unexpected safety hazards associated with the kitchen appliances.
According to findings from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the doors on the affected units can suddenly slam shut on consumers’ arms while the appliance is powered on and operating, creating a significant risk of burns. While the federal safety agency has logged dozens of burn reports nationwide—including at least one instance resulting in scarring consistent with second-degree burns—H-E-B reported that no injuries have been documented among its own customers.
The impacted appliances, identified as Kalorik MAXX Air Fryer Ovens with French Doors, were distributed broadly beyond H-E-B and Joe V’s Smart Shop locations. Retail distribution also included major outlets such as Walmart, The Home Depot, and Amazon during a sales window spanning from 2020 through 2025.
A formal product recall has not been executed due to regulatory and corporate complications. The original importers responsible for bringing the air fryers into the market have gone out of business, and the enterprise that currently holds ownership of the Kalorik brand has declined to participate in a voluntary recall effort.
Federal safety regulators and retail officials are instructing anyone who owns the affected appliances to discontinue use immediately. Consumers are advised to safely dispose of the units in accordance with local hazardous-waste disposal procedures rather than standard household trash.
