Stanley is responding to claims that its hugely popular products contain lead.
According to a report by TODAY, a Stanley spokesperson clarified that while lead is used in the manufacturing process of its cups and mugs, the product must be damaged to expose the lead.
At the bottom of every extinguisher made by the beverage container manufacturer is a circular stainless steel barrier that covers a lead-containing pellet, a Stanley spokesman explains. The pellet seals the product's vacuum insulation and is only accessible if the stainless steel barrier comes loose – which is possible but “rare,” the Stanley spokesperson noted to TODAY.
“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, the company said all of its products meet all U.S. regulatory requirements.
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Is there a risk of lead exposure when using a Stanley cup?
Stanley uses lead in the manufacturing process of its cups, but the risk of lead exposure only occurs if the cover at the bottom of the cup comes off and exposes the pellet used to seal the cup's vacuum insulation, a Stanley spokesman says.
What happens if the cup lid comes off?
If the cover at the bottom of the cup comes off, customers can file a claim under the company's lifetime warranty.
Does the liquid in a Stanley cup come into contact with the pellet?
The liquid in a Stanley cup does not come into contact with the pellet, so there is little to no risk of lead exposure from the drinking liquid in the container, according to a Stanley spokesperson. The risk is that the circular cover comes off and someone touches the exposed wire and then touches their mouth or nose, experts say.
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