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February 5th, 2024
Stanley travel cups have been all the rage recently, with the product flying off shelves because of a groundswell of popularity on social media. The tumblers come in an assortment of colors, hold up to 40 ounces of water, and still fit in a standard car cup holder. But recently, these oversized tumblers are back in the spotlight over concerns the cups contain lead. Owners across TikTok have been doing lead testing on their Stanley cups and other products and it turns out the claim is true: Stanley cups do contain some lead sealed within the base of its travel cup.
According to Stanley Cup manufacturer Pacific Market International, lead is incorporated into these cups as part of the tumbler’s vacuum insulation. However, the manufacturer claims it is then covered by a stainless-steel layer that protects consumers from lead exposure.
Nevertheless, concerns persist, given the extreme toxicity of lead, which is known to cause kidney and neurological problems, anemia, reproductive issues, and developmental issues. According to research director Jane Houlihan of Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, an alliance of nonprofits, scientists, and donors with a stated mission of reducing babies’ exposures to neurotoxic chemicals, some caution here is warranted. As she explains, “[i]f the cup stays intact, there’s likely no lead exposure risk for consumers. But if that bottom seal comes off, all bets are off.” If the base cap of a Stanley cup does come off and exposes the seal, which the manufacturer says is rare, the Stanley cup carries a lifetime warranty making it eligible for replacement.
While fears of lead exposure may be overblown when the Stanley Cup is fully intact, one can ill afford to take chances when it comes to lead exposure, and owners should remain diligent about keeping their Stanley Cups in good repair and replacing one if the base gets damaged.
