Stanley finally gives direct answer on scary safety concern about cups

For months the drinkware brand has been taking flak about a material used in the production of its cups.

Jan 27, 2024 - 00:30

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Stanley finally gives direct answer on scary safety concern about cups

If you've been brave enough to venture into your local big-box retailer, cafe or sporting-goods store recently, chances are you've noticed a swarm around one particular display.

And chances are that display was empty.

One of the biggest hits of the past year has been the Stanley cup, officially known as the Quencher, which is the brand's most popular model.

The 40-ounce stainless steel insulated cup features a handle and comes in a variety of trendy colors as an enamel outer. It's behind the viral TikTok trend #WaterTok, which has garnered over one billion views.

And if it seems silly that one cup to hold water or other beverage has a chokehold on a particular American demographic, consider what propels popularity on social media in the first place.

Wellness is one of the fastest growing trends in terms of dollars spent, and visually based apps like TikTok and Instagram promote an aesthetic that appeals to many users: Stay hydrated, take care of yourself, wear a cute matching workout set and, of course, take your accordingly matched Stanley cup with you everywhere.

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Stanley addresses lead concern

But growing concern over the materials Stanley uses to make its sensational product has begun to alarm some users, who pay anywhere from $35 to hundreds of dollars, depending on the cup style.

Some users claim that the soldered bottom of Stanley cups contains lead, and if the bottom were to fall off for some reason, the person drinking out of the cup could be exposed to lead.

This has panicked some drinkers, who have sworn off the cups or promised to buy knock-offs.

Stanley responded to these claims on Monday, claiming that if consumers are using the cups properly, they shouldn't be exposed to the substance.

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“Please rest assured that no lead is present on the surface of any Stanley product that comes in contact with you or the contents of your container,” a Stanley spokesperson told WCNC Charlotte.

“Every Stanley product meets all U.S. regulatory requirements, including California Proposition 65, which requires businesses to warn Californians about heavy metal and chemical exposure.”

The company does say that it seals the bottom of its cups with a pellet that contains lead, though it insists this is an industrywide practice. It also says the lead is covered by stainless steel, so users should never come into contact with the heavy metal.

One Reddit user responded to the claim on the r/StanleyCups subreddit, asking if others are concerned about the latest revelations.

" I personally wouldn’t worry about it and will still continue to use my Stanley," one user wrote. "If it was some new random company, I’d probably reconsider, but Stanley has been around for awhile, way before it blew up in recent years, so for that I trust that they are pretty on top of creating products that aren’t harmful to their consumers."

TheStreet has reached out to Stanley for comment.