What You Really Need To Know About Lead In Your Stanley Cups

Viral videos from Stanley Cup users have been taking social media by storm over the last month, reports TODAY. Consumers claim that the product carries the risk of lead exposure after self-administered swab tests used to detect the presence of lead in the home revealed positive test results. The TODAY Show caught wind of the news, posting their own TikTok video a little over a week ago sharing that Stanley had issued a public statement formally addressing user concerns.

In the statement, Stanley confirmed that while lead is used in the making of the cup, the company is in compliance with all government regulations regarding product manufacturing and testing. Furthermore, the company explained that no direct contact with the lead is made by drinking from the cup. "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," Stanley representatives stated in the press release. "Once sealed, this area is covered with a durable stainless steel layer, making it inaccessible to consumers."

The risk of lead exposure would only occur if the circular seal on the bottom of the tumbler were to pop off, the company explained in the press release. However, this is considered a rare occurrence, they added. In this event, the consumer would be eligible for the company's Lifetime Warranty. Still, some individuals are choosing not to purchase the product for fear of lead poisoning (via TODAY). Most hazardous to children, the Cleveland Clinic explains that ingesting high levels of lead could cause symptoms such as cramping, behavioral changes, vomiting, headaches, learning difficulty, and more. For adults, symptoms may also include stomach pain, infertility, low libido, anemia, and numbness in the lower extremities. While there is no cure for lead poisoning, children may be prescribed a chelating agent that helps expel lead in the bloodstream from the body.

Per the TODAY Show video news report, experts emphasize that laboratory testing is more accurate than at-home test kits and is therefore considered a more reliable source of lead detection.