Stanleys contain led

Question

The original claim that the Stanley cup contains lead is from a woman who is claiming that her cup contains lead and has the potential to be harmful to both her and her child. This claim that there are harmful amounts of lead in a Stanley cup are false claims. If the cup is properly cared for, and not microwaved, etc. the cup is designed to be safe and not have levels of lead that risk any type of danger. "To cause some type of lead exposure, the Stanley Tumbler would need to be damaged or used in a way that is not intended, or become exposed to extreme heat." Basically, if the product is used and cared for in the way that it is directed and intended to be, it will not cause harm. This same thing would go for many other products as well, it is just basic proper use.

Comments

I think it is important to note that, though the product may only become dangerous if not used properly, there is lead used in the manufacturing of the product. After doing my own research, I found that in an article from Time Magazine Stanley told NBC, "they do use a lead pellet in the manufacturing process, in order to help insulate drinks from outside temperatures, it is covered by stainless steel and would not be able to contaminate drinks unless the stainless steel barrier was removed." While they claimed that it is rare for that to happen, it is possible.

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Did you find in your research how the led can be exposed? I can see this being an issue if the led can easily be exposed, by either the dishwasher or just overtime.

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I liked how you were able to find adequate background into how this claim was first made. I also liked how your evidence about lead exposure due to improper use was backed up by examples that are frequently made.

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I am wondering where found the original claim, is there a link you can provide that is visible to the public?

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According to Stanley themselves their products do contain some lead, "Our manufacturing process currently employs the use of an industry standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of our products; the sealing material includes some lead. Once sealed, this area is covered with a durable stainless steel layer, making it inaccessible to consumers. " This title is slightly misleading as their products do contain lead but the lead is never exposed to the customer. The company also claims its products are safe to be handled in a dishwasher and if the seal is broken they will replace your product.

https://support.stanley1913.com/en/support/solutions/articles/69000850923-do-stanley-products-contain-lead-

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Stanley, themselves even said that there was lead in the product, however it is in an area that has to be damaged to access the lead, and harming that area is hard to get to. However, the claim is correct, that there is lead in the product, so consume at your own risk.

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The claim about harmful lead levels in Stanley cups has been investigated and deemed false. According to expert analysis, Stanley cups do contain lead, but it is used in a way that doesn't pose a risk to users under normal conditions. The lead is part of the material used to seal the cup's base and isn't exposed unless the cup is damaged. The Consumer Products Safety Commission hasn't issued any recalls for these cups, and lead detection tests for home use are generally not recommended due to their unreliability for testing on metals like those used in Stanley cups.

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I really like the way you articulated your fact-check. I think that it is important to understand where an assumption like this may have come from. It is important to educate consumers on their products so that assumptions do not get made about the safety of a product. Great job!

Answer 1

From what I've found, the Stanley Cup does contain lead. In their insulated cups, there are small traces of lead in the industry-standard pellet, but the lead is enclosed by stainless steel, Stanley shared with WCNC Charlotte. "The pellet is completely covered and enclosed by a stainless-steel cover, making it inaccessible to consumers." Those who use the Stanely Cup have a low chance of being exposed to high levels of lead, 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," a Stanley spokesperson told Today. 

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

Comments

I like that you included a quote within your fact-check.

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I found this factcheck to be very helpful! I liked how you broke down what you found in your research and included a quote with the factcheck. Also you had two great sources to back up your claims.

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I found this fact-check to be very thorough. The quote you provided is really good and provides a deeper understanding to something like this. The sources you provided were really good as well.

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Overall, the fact-checking provides useful information about the presence of lead in Stanley Cups and the potential risks associated with it. The inclusion of quotes from Stanley representatives adds credibility to the information provided. However, it would be beneficial to include additional sources or references to support the claims made about the safety of using Stanley Cups and the potential risks of lead exposure. Additionally, providing more context about industry standards for lead content in insulated cups and the measures taken to mitigate risks would enhance the completeness of the fact-checking. Lastly, adding statements made from manufactors like Stanley and similar production companies who make similar products (products like Yeti, etc.) would be useful.

https://www.today.com/health/news/stanley-cups-lead-rcna135513
(statement from stanley is listed)

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

https://www.tiktok.com/@leadsafemama_2022?referer_url=wegotthiscovered.com%2Ffyi%2Fdo-yeti-cups-have-lead-in-them%2F&refer=embed&embed_source=71929438%2C121374463%2C121351166%2C71838018%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_masking&referer_video_id=7215011362181778731
(tiktok video that does a lead test on water bottles. yes tiktok is unreliable but since the test is done right in front of you I think it's worth to take into consideration.)

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Great job on your fact-check. I liked how direct your answer was and how much detail there was. This gave your answer validity. there was a good about of detail and an explanation for why this was being speculated. I also really appreciated the quote you added.

Answer 2

According to a spokesperson for Stanley 1913 to Today, the tumbler uses a pellet made of lead which is responsible for sealing the product's vaccuum insulation. The stainless steal barrier prevents the pellet from touching any part a customer would be able to access. However the tumbler would have to be damaged in a way that the stainless barrier comes off for that to happen. The company also has a lifetime warranty policy that any customer can submit should this happen to their tumbler.

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

Comments

This was a very strong claim. I think it could be stronger if you found more background on the spokesperson from Stanley. Also, it would be great if you discussed the probability of how often the stainless barrier comes off for lead to be ingested.

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I think this is a really good analysis. Were you able to find out HOW the tumbler would be damaged for the lead to be exposed?

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I also came across the same answer to this question. I think to further the research we should check out some more sources such as a spokesman so get a better answer.

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How would you rate the claim? True, false, N/A? Don't forget to select a rating for each fact-check going forward.

Answer 3

From what I've found the Stanley Cup does contain lead in part of the vacuum insulation however, the stainless steel coating around the bottle protects users from lead poisoning. Quotes from Stanley Cup manufacturer Pacific Market International say “Our manufacturing process currently employs the use of an industry-standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of our products; the sealing material includes some lead,” a Stanley spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “Once sealed, this area is covered with a durable stainless steel layer, making it inaccessible to consumers.” (CNN). I found this information in CNN article: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/26/health/stanley-cups-lead-wellness/index.html and the same info was mirrored in stories from Today and GlobalNews. So although yes Stanley Cups do contain lead within their systems, none is harmful to consumers.

Comments

How would you rate the claim? True, false, N/A? Don't forget to select a rating for each fact-check going forward.

Answer 4

This is true. Stanley Cups do contain lead, but are not harmful unless used in a way that was not meant for the cup. A Stanley representative said that the product needs to become damaged in order to expose the lead (TODAY.com). The lead is located at the base of the cup in the sealing material used to keep the temperature of the liquid in the bottle (New York Times). The New York Times got this information from the company's website The lead will not come in contact with the liquid in the cup and the layer of stainless steel makes it "inaccessible to consumers." (New York Times)

Comments

I agree, I also did research and came across the same information!

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Your research is concise and I appreciate the incorporation of many sources to create a cohesive response! Finding an official statement from the company was a great way to verify the claim. Because of negative public response, it will be interesting to see if Stanley decides to re-brand themselves and create new products to avoid negative spotlight.

Answer 5

This claim comes from a woman saying that her Stanely cup contained lead that was harmful to her and her childs health, which is false. 

An article from 10 News got a comment from Stanely officials stating "The material used to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of the cups does contain lead. However, there’s no lead on the surface of any Stanley product that comes into contact with the consumer or the contents of the cup."

https://www.wsls.com/health/2024/01/31/health-watch-do-stanley-cups-contain-lead/#:~:text=Stanley%20officials%20said%20the%20material,the%20contents%20of%20the%20cup.

Stanely cups are made from recycled stainless steel icons inside the tumbler (made from sustainable material). This is the part of the bottle that comes into contact with your body.

https://www.stanley1913.com/products/adventure-quencher-travel-tumbler-40-oz?variant=44559859613823

Although there is lead in the bottle the part of the Stanely that comes into contact with your body has no lead. Hence, this claim is false.

Answer 6

CNN reached out to a representative of Stanley to learn more about exactly what the popular tumbler is made of. The representative admitted that the cup does contain some amounts of lead, “Our manufacturing process currently employs the use of an industry-standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of our products; the sealing material includes some lead,” a Stanley spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “Once sealed, this area is covered with a durable stainless steel layer, making it inaccessible to consumers.” Because of the additional layer added on top, the representative went on to reassure readers that it is inaccessible to consumers and therefore not harmful. 

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

Answer 7

The source is a bit harmful in information.The Stanley cups contain lead as stated in the source. However, the cup has to be damaged to be exposed to lead to cause harm to consumers. The source is a mom claiming lead to be harmful to her family but this wouldn't be possible unless broken, scraped, or even heated in the household. When purchased, the Stanley Cup is ready to be used, when undergoing processing and shipping it is under safe packaging. Thus, causing the source to carry false claims, this reading is misinforming.

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

Answer 8

It is true that Stanley cups contain lead, but the most important part of this is the fact that health experts have considered it a non risk. According the this article from the washington post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/01/31/stanley-cup-lead-claims/, lead is used in the manufacturing of Stanley cups, but it is not a health risk and social media platforms are blowing it way out of proportion.

Answer 9

This claim is true. Recently, TikTok users have been testing their Stanley cups for lead. TikTok user Anna Como tested two of her Stanley cups for lead, which was not present in either of her cups. But whether Stanley cups contain lead has been a debate on the internet. Stanley's website came out with a statement, telling the consumers that their products do contain lead. They clarified that the manufacturer uses a "standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of our products", which contains lead. But they also reassured that "this area is covered with a durable stainless steel layer, making it inaccessible to consumers." So while Stanley cups do contain lead, the manufacturer ensures that it's inaccessible to the consumers, as long as they are taking care of the product correctly. Taking the correct measures to clean the cup will prevent the cup from being damaged and being exposed to lead.

Sources:

https://www.tiktok.com/@annacomo/video/7329994256192425246?embed_source=71929435%2C121374463%2C121351166%2C71838018%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_blank&refer=embed&referer_url=www.vox.com%2Fculture%2F24059078%2Flead-stanley-water-bottles-why-safe&referer_video_id=7329994256192425246

https://www.vox.com/culture/24059078/lead-stanley-water-bottles-why-safe

https://support.stanley1913.com/en/support/solutions/articles/69000850923-do-stanley-products-contain-lead-

https://www.kpax.com/how-to-clean-your-stanley-cup-to-avoid-mold#:~:text=Like%20we%20mentioned%20earlier%2C%20Stanley,the%20walls%20of%20the%20cup.

Comments

This was a ver good fact check. You found that Stanley came out with a statement claiming that they did have led in their cups but they also said it was because they use it to seal their cups. You also found that the only way someone would be exposed to lead was if they had a significant amount of damage to there cup.

Answer 10

From what I've found, Stanley cups do in fact contain led, however it is not harmful to people. According to the Stanley official website, led is used in their vacuum insulation technology (what keeps the drinks cold), however it is completely covered by a layer of stainless steal. A medical director of the Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia even commented on this saying, "It can be scary to hear that you have lead... however, we feel that this is, essentially, a non-risk." So it seems safe to say that as long as you are using and caring for the Stanley cup correctly then there is very little risk of consuming led. 

Sources: 

https://support.stanley1913.com/en/support/solutions/articles/69000850923-do-stanley-products-contain-lead- 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/01/31/stanley-cup-lead-claims/ 

Comments

This is a great fact-check. You got a statement directly from the source rather than secondary sources. Because this is a concern for individuals health, it is important to get a statement form a medical professional - which you did. It is also great to note that there is still a chance of individuals being exposed to lead if they are not taking care of their cup correctly.

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Great job on this fact-check! You have certainly done your research and found credible sources to prove that this claim is an exaggeration. I appreciate your tidbit of advice at the end of this post, as it can calm the nerves of the many consumers who frequently drink out of their Stanley cups.