March 6, 2026 — A 73-year-old consumer in Buffalo, NY, recently experienced a severe injury to her right index finger while attempting to open a 64 oz container of Tropicana Calcium Orange Juice. The incident, involving a difficult-to-open plastic pull tab that broke during use, has raised concerns about product packaging safety and the responsiveness of manufacturers to consumer complaints.
Product Details
Product: TROPICANA CALCIUM OJ
Incident Overview
The incident occurred last week after the consumer purchased a 64 oz container of Tropicana Orange Juice from a PriceRite store in Buffalo, NY. Upon attempting to open the container using its plastic pull tab, the consumer found it exceptionally difficult. During the struggle, the tab broke, resulting in a deep cut to the top joint of her right index finger. The consumer reported that the broken tab exacerbated the injury, causing the cut to be deeper than it might otherwise have been.
Following the injury, the consumer described using ice to stop the pain. However, her finger continues to be sore and throbs with pain, making it difficult to move. She plans on going to the hospital on Monday to get an X-ray.
In the days following the incident, the consumer made numerous attempts to contact Tropicana, the product’s manufacturer, by phone and submitted a complaint with pictures through their website. Despite repeated efforts, including calls to their 800-237-7799 number, she initially received no response. A search for similar complaints online revealed that others had also reported issues with Tropicana’s pull tabs, noting the company’s apparent reluctance to switch to a screw-top design.
On February 13, 2026, the consumer finally received a call from Tropicana’s consumer care. She detailed the incident, the severity of her injury (how bad the cut was), and her prior attempts to contact the company, including the submission of photos. The representative claimed no record of her previous calls or pictures. After relaying her complaint, the consumer reported being immediately offered coupons, an offer she found dismissive given the nature of her injury. She stated, “You got to be kidding,” and asked the representative to send her email to show all her pictures, also stating that this wasn’t the first time this had happened. The representative stated she would send an email. However, after waiting hours to receive the email and making more numerous calls stating where the email was, she then refused to comply.
Safety Concerns
This incident highlights several significant safety concerns related to product packaging:
- Immediate Dangers: Overly difficult or poorly designed pull tabs pose an immediate risk of lacerations and puncture wounds, especially when consumers exert significant force. The breaking of a plastic tab can create sharp, jagged edges, increasing the severity of potential injuries.
- Long-Term Risks: Lacerations, particularly those that are deep or involve joints, can lead to serious complications. These may include infection, nerve damage, tendon damage, chronic pain, reduced mobility, and permanent scarring. For an elderly individual, such injuries can be particularly debilitating and slow to heal.
- Who Might Be Affected: While this incident involved an older consumer, difficult packaging can affect anyone, including children, individuals with limited dexterity, arthritis, or disabilities. The elderly population, in particular, may be more vulnerable to injury and slower recovery.
- Property Damage Potential: Product packaging failures, such as spills from a broken or improperly opened container, can also lead to property damage to personal belongings, furniture, or flooring.
What Consumers Should Do
If you encounter a product with packaging that is unusually difficult to open or suspect a design flaw:
- Exercise Caution: Use caution when opening any product, especially if it requires significant force. Consider using a tool, if appropriate, to assist with opening, rather than relying solely on bare hands.
- If Injured:
- Seek Medical Attention: If you sustain an injury, especially a deep cut or one that impacts movement, seek immediate medical attention. Follow all medical advice for wound care and potential follow-up.
- Document Everything: Take clear photos of the injured product packaging, your injury, and any relevant details (date of purchase, store, product batch number if visible). Keep records of medical treatment and communication with the manufacturer.
- Report the Incident:
- Contact the Manufacturer: Inform the manufacturer directly about the issue, providing detailed information and any evidence you have.
- Report to CPSC: File a report with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.SaferProducts.gov. This helps the CPSC identify potential hazards and initiate investigations.
- Consider Alternatives: If a product consistently proves difficult to open and poses a safety risk, consider purchasing alternative brands with safer or easier-to-use packaging.
Manufacturer’s Response
No manufacturer response has been provided in the incident report.
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. Farzan Law is a California based Personal Injury law firm focusing on protecting the rights of those wrongfully injured.
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Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
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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.