Claim: Stanleys contain led

Question

The source that I found that I used to research this claim seems to be a false story or had questionable content/information. This claim states that a woman threw away her Stanley water bottle after it caused lead poisoning in her three-year-old. The article then states that the woman herself conducted a lead test to confirm that the container contained lead. The source then uses a source from TikTok that included a user posting a video of a cotton swab claiming to prove the presence of lead to provide evidence for this claim. Although the evidence in this source seems askew and unreliable I do believe the purpose of this article is good-intentioned.

Comments

I appreciate your analysis of Stanley's containing lead. I do believe some wordage in your fact-check is askew. For example, you said 'caused' in the sentence "woman threw away her Stanley water bottle after it caused lead poisoning in her three-year-old." Which in the article you provided, isn't the case. In the article, it relayed "one woman claimed, her Stanley cup contained lead, and could potentially cause lead poisoning in her 3-year-old child." A part of the manufacturing process includes the sealing material, which contains some lead. However, that particular area is covered with durable stainless steel. I would say this article adequately describes why there are traces of lead found in Stanley cups, along with their safety measures to make sure customers are healthy and using a reliable product.

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Great reply, Sophia! I agree that the article shows authenticity and mentions there's lead in a Stanley. It's also good that they explain the steps they're taking and the safety measures to make sure it's not harmful.

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I was very interested when I found this claim because I saw this on my Instagram feed today. At first I thought it was just another claim trying to cancel something in trend, but after more research I believe that the claim is true. Stanley spoke to NBC news and said that the manufacturing company uses metal palettes with a small trace of lead. This makes me believe that all these claims are true and there are trace amounts of lead in Stanleys. However, where the lead is in the cup would not give lead poising from drinking in it. The cups are safe to drink in and would not give people lead poisoning.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/stanley-cups-contain-lead-pose-risk-lead-poisoning-experts-weigh-rcna135584

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Nice find on the article, it did a good job of sourcing to the original text of the manufacturing company saying that there is indeed lead in the product. That link can be found in the article as well as from the official social media page of the Product saying that there is lead in the product, but it has to be damaged first. I do believe this fact check, that there is lead in the product, however, since its in an area that is hard to damage to get to the lead, I think the product is safe to be consumed.

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I agree that the article was being honest about the lead content in the Stanley's. It's nice to see them outlining the precautions and safety measures that they are implementing to ensure that they are safe to use.

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I agree it's nice to see the percautions and saftey measures that they are taking to make sure the product is safe to use

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I think you did a good job finding the original source of the article. I do believe this fact check and that there is lead in the product, but it does say that it has to be damaged before lead poisoning can occur.

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I think you did a great job fact checking and finding the original source. I agree that the overall purpose of the article was published with good intentions.

Answer 1

Based on my evidence, I found that there actually is lead in Stanley cups. It is used to seal the cups for the purpose of insulation, given why the cups have such a strong reputation for keeping liquids hot/cold for extended periods of time. The manufacturing company uses a metal pellet in its insulating layer that contains a small trace of lead. One important thing to note is that the lead is enclosed by stainless steel, blocking it from physical contact with a user's drink or straw. Therefore, the cups are safe to drink from and will not cause consumers to develop lead poisoning.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/stanley-cup-lead-health-verify/275-8e52adaf-2825-428f-8830-2543fcf54ec6#:~:text=Yes%2C%20Stanley%20tumblers%20are%20sealed,into%20contact%20with%20your%20drink.

Comments

I understand why you say it is truthful because Stanley cups do indeed have lead in their metal lining as you mentioned. However, the article alleges that a 3-year-old got lead poisoning from the Stanley Cup. This is not true as you mentioned the lead does not touch the liquid within the cup. This amount of lead is also not harmful as it is only trace amounts.

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I think your answer is mostly true, as the cup would have to be damaged for the lead to get into the drink. However, I think it is important to mention in your answer that it is still a possibility that someone could get lead poisoning from the Stanley Cup.

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Your answer is correct, that Stanley cups do contain led, but it is important to highlight you will not get lead poisoning. They are completely safe to drink out of. A Stanley spokes person came out and confirmed that Stanley uses lead in their manufacturing process, but you are only at risk if the cover on the bottom of the cup comes off.

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I like the research you did to find how the Stanley cups are manufactured, and where the seemingly present lead in the bottles is, however the liquid in the cup never comes into contact with the lead. Perhaps the lady in the article had a cup with a defect or came into contact with the lead another way, but the cups themselves seem to be safe to drink out of.

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I am so glad that you pointed this out because I recall hearing something along the lines of it. But knowing how much approval engineering and patenting baggage that comes with products now it is really hard to believe they would even produce anything with lead, but of course you made it clear it is safe and not at risk for consumption.

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I am very glad someone fact-checked this because I have been hearing rumors circulate. Good job on noting the exaggeration in the article, rather than a pure false claim. Technically Stanley does have lead in the products, but not for the reason of harming people, but rather keeping their drinks insulated properly. Overall strong fact-check, but there could have been another source listed for added credibility.

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I believe the research you have done is correct. It shows that yes the product does contain lead, but can only be exposed if serious damage is done towards the product.

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It is important that you pointed out that the company has responded to this issue and clarified it. The claim that Stanley cups have lead in them is true; however, the claim the mother made is based off a misunderstanding and mislocation of the problem. It is also important to note that even though the Stanley cups have lead in them it is not harmful and that other companies do the same. In the Thermos companies FAQ’s they address this concern and say the same thing Stanley does: there is lead but it is not harmful. Link- https://thermos.com/pages/faq#:~:text=Are%20Thermos%20products%20lead%2Dfree,of%20lead%20exposure%20to%20consumers.

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I think that the fact check is partially valid; however, there are questions that seem to be a little bit fuzzy. How does Stanley deal with the issue of lead if found in a customer's bottle? How many cases are found that validate a possibility there is lead in the cup (which has been found in an article of a three year old)? Does the lead in the tumbler have a positive effect on the functioning of the bottle?

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I'm impressed by the thoroughness of this factcheck. You went to the way they produce the cups to solve the query. I wouldn't even have thought of that myself. It shows critical thinking to the highest degree.

Answer 2

Stanley Cups do contain lead but in a trace amount which is unharmful to the user. The original article is misleading as it leads the reader to believe that the presence of lead, in this case, is harmful.

https://wcnc.com/article/news/verify/stanley-cup-lead-health-verify/275-8e52adaf-2825-428f-8830-2543fcf54ec6#:~:text=Yes%2C%20Stanley%20tumblers%20are%20sealed,into%20contact%20with%20your%20drink.

Comments

I appreciate that you distinguished between fatal and trace amounts of the lead. Whilst it is technically true there is lead in Stanley cups, you successfully proved that it is not harmful.

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I though your answer was well written. It became a lot more clear once you differentiated trace levels and potentially harmful levels of led.

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I admire how you brought in the idea of a "trace amount" of lead to show how this article is misleading. Trace amounts of lead are not harmful to the user, which is an important distinction to make because the original article was misleading.

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I agree with your comment. I think this whole instance is true but misleading with where the lead is in the cup.

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Thank you for giving input about the amount of lead. Just saying that "Stanleys contain lead" can be misleading because it is hard to know if it enough to actually be harmful. If the amount of lead is not harmful then this claim is not important.

Answer 3

This article written by Kate Underwood published in September of 2023 is claiming that Stanley water bottles have poisonous leaves of lead in them. The main supporting claim this article is making in support of the accusation of Stanley cups having lead in them is that a woman conducted a lead poison test that came back positive. I think this is faulty information because although the article speaks on this test it does not show evidence of any results. The only evidence in quotes that this article does have is in form of quotes from the Stanley company on information of what is in the material these cups are made out of, and there is no lead mentioned. After searching online I was unable to find any reliable sources that support the same claim of Stanley cups having lead in them.

Comments

Strong fact-checks include supporting data, quotes, and information. Don't forget to add that in next time.

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You are right to point out that lead is present in Stanley cups, but it's also crucial to emphasize that lead poisoning is not a possibility. You may drink from them without any worries at all. A representative for Stanley acknowledged that lead is used in the manufacturing process, but the only way you may be in danger is if the bottom cover of the cup were to fall off.

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Although you have stated this article is Faulty Information you didn't include any information from your findings, such as what sources you found and why you deem them as unreliable along with adding in the quotes or links from the Stanley company.

Answer 4

The original claim that comes from a woman who says her Stanley cup contains lead and it can be harmful to her three-year-old, is a misleading claim. While looking through the source provided (Greenmatters), it is apparent that Stanley cups do contain lead, but not enough to be considered harmful to its users. The original source comes from a TikTok video that was posted in August, by the user, @m1l522. I couldn't find the account on TikTok, as it was most likely deleted. Upon researching the cup itself, there is usually a piece that covers the area where the test was conducted in the original video, that area being the very bottom of the cup. I attempted to research more reliable sources that provides factual information of Stanley cups containing a harmful amount of lead to is exposed to the user, but I couldn't find any reliable sources. I also looked at Stanley's website and saw that they claim that all their products are FDA tested and aren't harmful to its users. I believe that this claim is misleading because Stanley cups do contain lead, but the lead isn't accessible to the user and is protected, unless the cup is damaged or broken.   

Original source in claim: https://www.greenmatters.com/sustainable-living/stanley-cup-lead-poisoning

TikTok source: @m1l522 (video and profile unavailable)

My research sources: Mom Says Viral Stanley Cup Allegedly Tested Positive for Lead (dailydot.com)

I have a question about Stanley products. : Stanley 1913

Comments

I appreciate your attention to detail! Finding the first phase of information disorder is the perfect way to find out the reliability of a claim. You put in good work finding all of your sources.

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Hello, I also tried to find the original tiktok source and it seems to still be deleted and not archived anywhere in particular. I also looked on the FDA's page regarding Lead in Food and Foodware. The Stanley Cup manufactures claim they are FDA approved and the FDA reinforces that they take extra precaution when it comes to lead. Overall, a great response to the original claim by using further outside resources.

FDA: https://www.fda.gov/food/environmental-contaminants-food/lead-food-and-foodwares#:~:text=The%20calculated%20IRLs%20are%202.2,against%20infant%20exposure%20during%20nursing.

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I like how you follow the trail of information as it circulates through media. I also like that you investigate the procedures used to test lead content by the original tester on TikTok.

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Your research appears to be accurate, in my opinion. It demonstrates that while lead is present in the product, exposure to lead can only occur if significant harm is done to it.

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I agree with you on the claim being misleading. You did a great job at following the story and even doing separate research from the original post. I appreciate that you included the part about where the “test” was conducted on the Stanley cup and how it is usually covered to prevent touching any source of lead, no matter how small of it is being used.

Answer 5

I also believe the intention was not to harm anyone with this post. I believe that the women genuinely thought the lead in the stanley was causing her child to have issues when in reality the lead is not in a harmful spot of the water bottle for it to have caused that damage. It is misleading for people to see this and could be cause for concern.

Comments

In the article, it stated that "one woman claimed, her Stanley cup contained lead, and could potentially cause lead poisoning in her 3-year-old child." The sealing material, which incorporates lead, is a component of the production process. Nonetheless, sturdy stainless steel covers that specific spot. You could have also used other sources for your research and included them in your response.

Answer 6

Stanley along other cups do contain lead however there is not need to worry much about it.A Stanley cup representative spoke upon this, according to the representative there is lead inside the cup that do not touch the drink it is inside the vacuum insulation. People worrying about this is quite normal since Stanley cups became a big hit especially in the younger generation, so parents worry whether their children are containing lead or not in their drinks. If parents are worried for whether or not their children had consumed lead they should get tested. There is still a bit of questioning on whether or not the cups release lead into the drink but as of right now there is not any worries of Stanley cups having lead and if they were to have lead they would most likely be recalled.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/26/health/stanley-cups-lead-wellness/index.html#:~:text=The%20cups%20do%20have%20lead,damaged%2C%20a%20Stanley%20spokesperson%20said.&text=First%2C%20Stanley%20cups%20were%20all,so%20many%20people%20wanted%20them. 

Comments

I like that you brought up the idea of parents being concerned with their children using a product that lead may be contained. I think this gives a lot of insight in the claims

Answer 7

After further research on the topic, it has been found that Stanley's do contain lead in the them. From the source, Today News, "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" (Austin). It was said by a Stanley spokesperson that was interviewed. Although, you can submit a claim through the company's lifetime warranty if this does happen to you. This happens because during the manufacturing process the standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation is at the base of the product and the sealing material contains lead which was found. After further investigation it is said by CNN health that the CDC says that, "even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect, learning, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement". It seems as though it is an old manufacturing process to make these kind of cups. 

https://www.today.com/health/news/stanley-cups-lead-rcna135513

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/26/health/stanley-cups-lead-wellness/index.html

Answer 8

Upon further investigation, the article posted by Green Matters sheds light on the fact that Stanley cups contain minuscule amounts of led. It is inappropriate that there is not a warning label on the packaging being that some demographics, such as children and infants, are more susceptible to led poisoning. Although, an article I found posted by Time legitimizes this claim and states that led is used "to help insulate drinks from outside temperatures" but goes on to declare that the led "would not be able to contaminate drinks unless the stainless steel barrier was removed." Therefore, after fact-checking I can confidently say that Stanley brand cups do not have the capability of led poisoning unless the cups are damaged or scratched. Further, Stanley is working to find "alternative materials for use in the sealing process" and the article also states that they adhere to FDA guidelines during the manufacturing process.

https://time.com/6588909/stanley-cups-contain-lead-concerns-response-viral/ 

Answer 9

Misleading information. The article about Stanley cup's causing lead poisoning or the possibility of them causing lead poisoning is misleading. Some of the information within the article is accurate regarding the actually lead pellet that is sealed within the cup. Stanley does actually have a lead pellet in the cup which is is sealed between the base cap so essentially this small amount of lead is sealed between stainless steel making it inaccessible unless you break the cup. In regards to the articles claim that a 3 year old had gotten lead poisoning, I could not find anything that proved that claim. The article is misleading because it does contain some truthful information but manipulates the story and sort of leads the viewer to think a certain thing.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/stanley-cup-lead-health-verify/275-8e52adaf-2825-428f-8830-2543fcf54ec6#

https://www.today.com/health/news/stanley-cups-lead-rcna135513

Answer 10

I found that there is lead in Stanley mugs based on my research. Given that the cups have a well-deserved reputation for maintaining liquids' temperature for prolonged periods of time, it serves as an insulating seal. The manufacturing business employs a metal pellet with a trace amount of lead in its insulating layer. It's crucial to remember that the lead is protected from physical contact with a user's drink or straw by a stainless steel enclosure. Addressing the article's assertion that a 3-year-old could get lead poisoning, I was unable to locate any evidence to support it. 

https://www.today.com/health/news/stanley-cups-lead-rcna135513

https://fox59.com/news/national-world/do-stanley-cups-contain-lead/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CYes%2C%20Stanley%20uses%20lead%20in,a%20Stanley%20spokesperson%20told%20TODAY.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/26/health/stanley-cups-lead-wellness/index.html