By Abe James
A shocking revelation was made about the ever-so-popular Stanley Quenchers earlier this year which has caused customers, reporters, and the general public to seek answers from the company regarding the reports of lead in the cups. To add fuel to the fire, competing companies such as Hydroflask have made posts talking about how their products do not have any lead in them. This has led many to believe these posts are about Stanley. Because of all of this, it is important to state clearly why the lead is there in the first place and the effects.
There is no denying that there is lead within the cups as Stanley has issued a statement claiming that a material used to “seal the vacuum insulation at the base of our products” contains lead. This is usually not a problem because the lead is on the outside of the cup. However, when “the base cap of a product comes off due to ordinary use,” the lead is exposed with the seal and the cup becomes unsafe. In an interview with Vox, Diane Calello, the medical director at New Jersey Poison Control Center, claimed the bottle is “not a lead hazard,” as long as it is not severely damaged. Many customers are still upset as they believe there is no reason for the lead to be exposed so quickly in the first place.
However, it is much safer to replace the cup than to continue using a broken Stanley due to the implications of lead poisoning. Stanley also promised that a broken seal would make the product eligible for a Lifetime Warranty and replacement.
Lead poisoning affects adults, children, and newborns differently. According to the Mayo Clinic, some effects for adults are joint and muscle pain and difficulties with memory.
This is not the first lead-laced water bottle controversy. In 2022 and 2023, Green Sprouts and Bindle had issues with lead poisoning and had to recall their products voluntarily. The Green Sprouts bottles were stainless steel toddler sippy cups and were recalled because the bottom base was able to break off. This exposed a solder dot containing lead, similar to the Stanley Quencher. Like the Stanley Quencher, this solder was used to create vacuum insulation. Green Sprouts has said that the solder was “inaccessible under normal use,” which is similar to the Stanley situation in that the lead is only revealed after damage. Because the product was designed for children, it was recalled by the company due to the adverse effects of lead poisoning on children and newborns.
The Bindle “sip and stash” bottles were recalled because the compartment at the bottom contained a solder dot of a lead mixture, just like the Green Sprouts and Stanley cups. However, the company’s mixture contained too much lead as found by Consumer Report. The compartment was used to store food so the product was recalled.
The company has not decided to recall the Stanley Quenchers despite this discovery. This lead is typically found in vacuum-sealed bottles to help the containers stay cold or warm for long periods of time. Major brands like Owala, Hydro Flask, and Klean Kanteen do not use lead while others like MiiR and LifeStraw do. Because of the popularity of Stanley Quenchers, the addition of lead in water bottles has come under more scrutiny.
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