Stanley is responding to claims that its products contain lead, clarifying that yes, lead is used in the manufacturing process, but the product needs to become damaged in order to expose the lead, a Stanley spokesperson tells TODAY.com in a statement.
On the bottom of each quencher made by the beverage container powerhouse is a circular barrier made of stainless steel, which covers a pellet that contains lead, a spokesperson for Stanley explains. The pellet seals the product’s vacuum insulation, and it is not accessible unless the stainless steel barrier comes off — which is possible but “rare,” the Stanley spokesperson notes.
“Our engineering and supply chain teams are making progress on innovative, alternative materials for use in the sealing process,” the spokesperson adds. In a separate statement to NBC affiliate WCNC, the company said all of its products follow all U.S. regulatory requirements.
In a recent flurry of social media posts, some Stanley customers say they are using at-home tests to assess if there’s lead in any of their Stanley products, to mixed results (though it’s often not clear what part of the cup is being tested and the quality of lead test being used).
TODAY.com spoke with multiple experts and government officials to understand why lead exposure is so dangerous and how contamination generally occurs.
Do Stanley cups contain lead?
Yes, Stanley uses lead in its manufacturing process for its cups, but they only pose a risk of lead exposure if the cover on the bottom of the tumbler comes off and exposes the pellet used to seal the cup’s vacuum insulation, a Stanley spokesperson says. (If this happens, you can submit a claim through the company’s lifetime warranty.)
The liquid inside a Stanley mug does not come in contact with the pellet, so there’s little to no chance of lead exposure from drinking liquid inside the…
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