Stanley has recalled 2.6 million stainless steel travel mugs in the United States because the threads on the lids can shrink and cause the lid to come off, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.
The recall covers all Stanley Switchback and Trigger Action stainless steel travel mugs, which are double-walled mugs sold in a number of colors and sizes that came with a polypropylene lid, according to the recall notice posted Thursday by the Consumer Safety Product Commission.
The company reports an issue with the mugs' lid threads that causes them to shrink when exposed to heat and then fall off of the cup, posing a burn hazard to those who've put hot liquids inside.
Stanley's 40-ounce Quencher cup gained rabid popularity for its candy-like array of colors and its ability to keep beverages hot and cold for long periods of time. Once the cups took off on social media, Stanley's annual sales reportedly jumped from $75 million to $750 million in 2023 alone.
Simply put, Stanley cups do have a small lead pellet in their base, which helps create vacuum-sealed insulation, enabling them to hold temperature steady for a long period of time.
Test the pottery. Consumers can buy lead-testing kits in hardware stores or online. The kits contain swabs with instructions on proper use of the swabs and reading of the results. In most cases, the consumer will rub the swab on the food-contacting surface of the pottery.
While Stanley says the lead used in the manufacturing process doesn't pose a health risk, some TikTokers have been posting videos throwing their cups away since questions about lead have been raised, and encouraging followers to as well.
Stanley claims that the $45 40-ounce bottles formally known as Quencher H2. 0 FlowState™ Tumblers can keep hot drinks hot for seven hours, cold drinks cold for 11 hours, and iced drinks iced for two days. For a lot of imbibing Americans, that's quite the draw.
While the Stanley tumbler is well-designed, the standard lids aren't spill-proof, especially if they're not sealed correctly or if the straw opening isn't closed tightly. It was never meant to be a water bottle that you can throw in your bag and go, but now it totally can be.
WHAT IS COVERED? Our products are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship at the time of the initial purchase. This lifetime warranty covers degradation of thermal performance.
The lawsuit alleges that Stanley and PMI misled customers because they did not warn consumers about the potential for exposure from damage to the vacuum seal and did not disclose how much lead is in each cup. PMI did not respond to NBC News' request or comment.
A representative for Stanley told Today.com, “In 2022, there was a 275% increase in sales of the Quencher year over year, and U.S. sales of all sizes of the tumbler were up 751% in the year to date.” Last year, the tumblers took off on TikTok with the rise of #watertok, when creators filmed themselves making flavored ...
Yeti Rambler Straw Mug
The 35-ounce version is the one we reach for most often. It feels sturdy and durable, with a smaller, harder handle compared to the Stanley. The Yeti handle feels like it's meant to be held onto, rather than sliding your hand through to hug the mug, and can feel a bit snug around the hand.
Is it safe to drink from a Stanley cup? Experts say there's “really no risk” to using a Stanley cup as long as it's in good condition.
Zeizel explains what happens inside our brains. "So, we have these neurotransmitters like dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, etc. Where when we purchase something, we get a chemical boost. So, purchasing something like the Stanley cup creates a dopamine rush, we get this release, and we get pleasure," Zeizel said.
These factors — combined with Stanley's history as a durable, reliable brand, the aesthetic quality of the tumbler overall plus limited-edition drops (which create a sense of scarcity), and the influence of social media — have led to entire cupboards and even walls devoted to Stanley cup collections.
Stanley's ascent on platforms like TikTok is a testament to the power of authentic, user-generated content. When influencers and everyday users alike shared their genuine love for the brand, Stanley cups didn't just become popular; they became a part of people's identities.
Rest assured that no lead is present on the surface of any Stanley product that comes into contact with the consumer nor the contents of the product." The BBC reached out to Stanley for additional comment and they responded with the same statement available on their website.
Tops of the popular steel cups have been "detaching during use, resulting in 38 burn injuries worldwide," the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
Lead exposure can cause high blood pressure and brain, kidney and reproductive health issues in adults. Symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, stomach cramps, constipation, muscle/joint pain, trouble sleeping, fatigue, irritability, and loss of sex drive. Most adults with lead poisoning don't look or feel sick.