Whipped cream canister injuries on the rise

Most of us would not think twice when adding whipped cream, or crème Chantilly as it is known in France, to our desserts.

But several recent freak accidents have shown that the canisters that dispense the cream, and in particular the siphon at the top of the device, could in fact be hazardous.

The issue was given publicity again this weekend when a woman suffered an injury to her arm while using a canister in birthday preparations. “If it had hit my head, I would have been killed,” she said.

And in June, 33 year old fitness blogger Rebecca Burger was killed at her home in Mulhouse after a canister exploded, hitting her on the chest and causing a heart attack. The woman’s family has said they will be taking legal action against the manufacturer.

The issue was raised in 2010, when a wave of low-cost canisters hit the market, produced by manufacturers who were not adhering to French safety regulations.

Since then there have been ‘numerous’ such accidents, according to The Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes (DGCCRF). The government body issued a warning to manufacturers and had to recall 200,000 faulty siphons to prevent harm.

Various types of durable dispenser are now available, but many people forget to replace the parts as they wear out, and do not have enough available information about their consumer rights. The Hamon Law was put in place in 2014, and makes it easier for consumers to take legal action against companies.