Consumers may want to reconsider taking another sip from their Stanley tumbler after suspicion of lead exposure.
After the explosion of the Stanley tumblers, consumers are thinking twice about taking a sip. The emergence of recent social media posts have shined a light on potential lead exposure. Stanley was established in 1913 but according to USA Today, rose to fame in 2020 after “Crocs executive Terence Reilly left the shoe company and became the president of Stanley, where he soon leaned into social media and influencer marketing to boost sales of the new line, which became the best-selling bottle the same year.”
Once something is shown on social media, there tends to be a trend where everyone wants in on the fun, which was the case for the Stanley Quenchers. Stanley prices these tumblers from $35 to $60, depending on the size of the cup. But it’s just a cup, what makes them so different from others?
Stanley prides themselves on their sustainable and vacuum-insulated design that is said to keep drinks cold for up to 11 hours, hot for seven hours and hold ice for up to two days. They are also extremely durable. In one instance a woman’s car went up in flames, destroying everything but the Stanley which still had ice.
The style of the cup is also something we don’t normally see in tumblers. The most popular cup is a 40oz, steel-insulated cup that keeps drinks hot or cold. The cup is pretty heavy but the built-in steel handle makes it easier to carry around.
As these cups take over the internet and new colors and styles get released, people are lining up for hours and even camping out the night before to get their hands on the newest edition. The latest craze is the Stanely x Starbucks Quencher or the Valentine’s Day edition only sold at Target where customers are limited to two cups. These exclusive cups were being sold for nearly $50 but are being resold for upwards of $200 on eBay.
Recently, Stanley received backlash on social media after customers learned about possible lead contamination. This created chaos on the internet and led people to test their cups at home. The lead that consumers are worried about comes from the bottom of the cup.
Looking at the exterior of the bottom of the cup, there is a nickel-sized cover covering the lead portion people are worried about. When this cover is off and liquid is consumed, some traces of lead can be found but it is only an issue when the cover is off.
Lead exposures can cause irritability, lethargy, muscle aches, constipation, difficulty concentrating, tremors and weight loss in the long run, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The Washington Post shares that research shows that “long-term lead exposure in children can lead to lower IQ levels and a higher risk of learning disabilities or conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In adults, long-term lead exposure can cause high blood pressure and brain and kidney problems, among other things.”
There are plenty of alternatives that can be found online or in retail stores if lead exposure is a major concern for you. Two companies are lead-free: Owala and Hydroflask. Both companies came to social media to share their lead-free products to make customers feel safe. Owala posted on Instagram that “true to our ethos of challenging the industry standard, we utilized an innovative, lead-free solder in our products from the very beginning— just one example of our commitment to prioritize consumer safety and well-being above all else.”
Hydroflask also came out with a statement on Instagram assuring customers that “…Hydro Flask does not use lead in our vacuum sealing process.” In 2012, they created a new way of sealing their products without using lead. With this new, complex design, the price for Hydro Flask has increased because they aim “…for a higher standard, knowing lead could be harmful to [their] consumers, manufacturing partners and the environment.”
If you suspect you may have been exposed to lead through a Stanley, it can be reported to the CPSC at www.saferproducts.gov/.