Should You Worry About Lead in Your Tumbler? Here's What to Know

Here’s what to know about heavy metals used to make your favorite water bottle.

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

Just a few weeks ago, the trendy tumbler brand Stanley was driving thousands to their website and retailers to purchase the newest styles of Quenchers on the market. Recently the brand is getting some less-positive attention for using lead in part of their sealing process. While the company claims the lead is sealed away and totally safe, those who own Stanley cups and similar brands’ items may be wondering if they should worry about lead in their new water bottles.

It’s understandable why the possibility of lead exposure from your new favorite tumbler would be a cause for concern. Lead is a heavy metal that is toxic to humans, and consuming it can affect people of all ages and health statuses in various ways. In addition, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) emphasizes that “lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects." But you may not need to worry too much about you or your children being exposed to lead from your go-to water bottles.

Stanley uses the heavy metal in production but claims that consumers shouldn’t worry. In their online statement, they write, “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.” The CPSC also gave EatingWell confirmation that “there is a risk of lead exposure if the stainless steel caps at the bottom of these products become damaged.” Because of this, Stanley claims the only time a customer should take action is when the bottom of the bottle is damaged. If the product damage is a result of ordinary use and the seal becomes exposed, the item is then eligible for their Lifetime Warranty.

Competitors have taken this time to publicize their longstanding decision against lead in their sealing processes. Namely, Hydro Flask posted to its Instagram feed with a statement: “In 2012, we pioneered a new process that sealed our bottles without the use of lead.” Hydro Flask CEO Scott Allan reported in 2015 that the company made the decision not only for the safety of consumers, but also for their employees and the environment. In testing their production process, Allan said they found “a [legally safe] trace amount of lead on the bottom of bottles,” which prompted the company to make a change for Chinese manufacturers’ safety. On top of that, lead-involved manufacturing processes pollute the air, which “can result in decreased growth and reproduction in plants and animals, and neurological effects in vertebrates,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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Other companies like Owala were even quicker to the punch, posting their lead-free statement to social media as early as January 26th, right after the Stanley news began taking over the internet. Klean Kanteen stated on its account that “Sealing insulated bottles with lead-free plugs costs more than using lead. In fact, 6-7 times more for us, but we choose not to pass that cost on to our customers.” They’d rather create a lead-free product and avoid any potential risk to consumer safety.

Commonly sold tumbler brands like Yeti, Coleman, Crave and many others have yet to comment.

The Bottom Line

Using lead to vacuum seal insulated water bottles is no longer an industry-wide standard, but the practice is still considered by the Food & Drug Administration to be generally safe for consumers. The lead in water bottles like Stanley tumblers is sealed underneath a stainless steel layer through which it cannot escape into the contents of the bottle. However, there is a risk of lead exposure if the stainless steel caps at the bottom of these products become damaged. In the case of a damaged product, you can discard the product and contact the manufacturer about their warranty. If you are concerned, there are several lead-free options on the market from brands such as Hydro Flask, Owala and Klean Kanteen.

Read the original article on Eating Well.