Do Stanley cups contain lead or pose a risk of lead poisoning? Experts weigh in
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.
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 to expose the lead, a Stanley spokesperson told 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 said. The pellet seals the product’s vacuum insulation, and it isn’t accessible unless the stainless steel barrier comes off — which is possible but “rare,” the spokesperson said.
“Our engineering and supply chain teams are making progress on innovative, alternative materials for use in the sealing process,” the spokesperson added. In a separate statement to NBC affiliate WCNC of Charlotte, North Carolina, the company said all of its products follow all U.S. regulatory requirements.
In a recent flurry of social media posts, some Stanley customers said they are using at-home tests to assess whether there’s lead in any of their Stanley products, to mixed results (though what part of the cup is being tested and the quality of lead test being used often aren’t clear).
TODAY.com spoke with multiple experts and government officials to understand why lead exposure is so dangerous and how contamination generally occurs.
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