January 15, 2026 – Consumer incident reports reveal two separate injury incidents involving the Select Brands DCM-12 Mickey Mouse waffle maker, raising significant safety concerns regarding both burn hazards from hot exterior surfaces and pinch hazards from the unit’s lid design.
Product Details
Incident Overview
These incidents, reported on December 26, 2025, detail two distinct injuries occurring with the same Mickey Mouse waffle maker, received as a Christmas gift.
First Incident – Burn Injury:
While the waffle maker was actively cooking and closed on a kitchen counter, a young son was observing. The product’s brightly colored design and prominent Mickey Mouse imagery attracted his attention. The child excitedly reached out, attempting to interact with “Mickey,” and made contact with the black metal edge surrounding the exterior casing. This surface was extremely hot, causing the child to immediately pull his hand back and cry in distress. He sustained a burn to his thumb. The incident report noted that at the time, there was no prominent or clearly visible warning on the exterior indicating that outer metal surfaces become dangerously hot. The existing warning text on the side of the unit was described as small and not easily noticeable, particularly given the product’s child-appealing design.
Second Incident – Pinch Injury:
In a separate incident involving the same waffle maker, an adult user sustained a finger injury. The design of the clamshell lid lacks any apparent hinge tension, resistance mechanism, or locking feature to keep it open when raised. While the unit was turned off and the lid was in an open position, it was inadvertently contacted. This caused the lid to swing downward and close suddenly, trapping the user’s fingers between the top and bottom clamshell plates and resulting in a painful pinch injury. The incident report stated that there was no warning in the instructions or on the packaging indicating that the lid does not remain open on its own or that it presents a pinch hazard.
Safety Concerns
These incidents highlight several critical safety concerns associated with the Select Brands DCM-12 Mickey Mouse waffle maker:
- Severe Burn Hazard from Hot Exterior Surfaces: The primary concern is the extreme heat generated on the exterior metal surfaces during operation.
* Immediate Dangers: Direct contact with these hot surfaces can cause severe burns, especially to sensitive skin like that of a child.
* Who Might Be Affected: Young children are particularly vulnerable due to their natural curiosity, undeveloped understanding of heat hazards, and attraction to child-friendly product designs like the prominent Mickey Mouse imagery. Adults can also sustain burns if they inadvertently touch hot surfaces.
* Inadequate Warning Visibility: The incident suggests that existing “CAUTION: HOT SURFACE” warnings may not be sufficiently prominent or noticeable, especially in the context of a product designed to appeal to children. The small size and placement of warnings can render them ineffective in preventing accidental contact.
- Pinch Hazard from Unstable Clamshell Lid: The design of the waffle maker’s lid, which lacks hinge tension or a locking mechanism, presents a significant pinch hazard.
* Immediate Dangers: The lid can unexpectedly fall or swing closed, trapping fingers and causing painful pinch injuries, lacerations, or bruising.
* Who Might Be Affected: Both adults and children are at risk, particularly when filling the unit or retrieving waffles, as the lid’s unpredictable movement can lead to accidental injury.
* Lack of Explicit Warnings: The absence of clear warnings in the instructions or on the packaging about the lid’s free movement exacerbates the risk, as consumers may not anticipate this hazard.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own the Select Brands DCM-12 Mickey Mouse waffle maker, or similar appliances, should take immediate precautions:
- Extreme Caution Around Hot Surfaces: Always assume all exterior surfaces of waffle makers and similar cooking appliances become dangerously hot during use. Keep the appliance well out of reach of children, especially those attracted to its design.
- Supervise Children Closely: Maintain constant supervision of children when any cooking appliance is in use. Educate children about the dangers of hot surfaces.
- Beware of Pinch Hazards: Be acutely aware that the lid of the DCM-12, and potentially other similar appliances, may not stay open on its own. Always maintain a firm grip on the lid when opening or closing it, or use a utensil to prevent fingers from being caught.
- Read Instructions Thoroughly: Always read and understand the entire use and care manual before operating any electrical appliance. However, be aware that even with instructions, some hazards may not be adequately highlighted.
- Report Incidents: If you or someone you know has experienced a similar incident or injury with this product or any other consumer product, report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov.
Manufacturer’s Response
Select Brands, Inc. provided a response to the incident claims on January 6, 2026.
Regarding Claim 1 (Burn Injury), the manufacturer stated that their “Important Safeguards” instructions advise close supervision when any appliance is used by or near children. They also noted that both the Instruction Manual and packaging include the warning, “THIS PRODUCT IS NOT A TOY. For your safety, always read and understand the Use and Care Manual before attempting to use any electric appliance.” Furthermore, they indicated that the unit itself is marked on both sides with “CAUTION: HOT SURFACE.”
Regarding Claim 2 (Pinch Injury), the manufacturer asserted that “the lid stays open while filling” and that “there is no requirement for a locking mechanism.” They also stated that the product meets all Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety requirements.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.