The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) investigated 25 hot water bottles for potential safety risks. All but one complied with the legal requirements. Because its cap could come loose, the NVWA immediately removed one bottle from the market. When hot water leaks from a bottle, it can cause burns.
In recent years, the NVWA received several reports about leaking bottles. Therefore, in 2024, the NVWA conducted a survey among consumers. A total of 142 consumers responded. Of those, one in five reported having sustained injuries from a hot water bottle. This prompted the NVWA to conduct an investigation.
The Investigation
For this investigation, inspectors purchased 25 different hot water bottles from a selection of randomly chosen stores and webshops. They were subjected to various tests in the laboratory. Of the investigated bottles, 24 remained intact and leak-free. During the tests, the cap of one bottle came loose. This is a serious safety risk because hot water can escape, potentially causing burns. The research results per bottle can be viewed on the website of public inspection results.
Instructions for Use
Although the NVWA received many reports of incidents with bottles, only 1 bottle was found to be unsafe in this investigation. The number of incidents may be explained by the fact that bottles are not always used safely. For example, if the water temperature is higher than recommended in the instructions. For tips on safe use of bottles: How to use a hot water bottle safely for your baby (website Kinderveiligheid.nl).
Report Unsafe Bottles
If consumers have an unsafe bottle in their possession or have doubts about its safety, they can report it to the NVWA.
More Information
Consumers and businesses can contact our Customer Contact Center. For questions regarding this news report, journalists can contact our press officers.