There is something consumers of the famous Stanley water bottle did not know when purchasing the product. It contains traces of lead, but not in an area that comes into contact with the user.
Stanley water bottles have been in the market for quite some time now, but it was not until 2020 that the tumbler saw a surge after a viral video on TikTok. The surge in demand caused the water bottle’s price to rise exponentially, with some products going for as high as $60.
PMI’s Admission
The popularity also saw increased scrutiny, as internet sleuths sought to investigate the popularity. Before long, there were claims of lead in the cup, with people sharing the DIY test results online. Following speculations over the presence of lead in the cups, Pacific Market International, the company behind the Stanley tumblers, issued a statement admitting to the presence of lead but claiming that the lead had no way of coming into contact with consumers directly.
This turn of events could serve as a huge blow to the company. Experts claim there is very little chance of lead poisoning as a result of using the cup; however consumers will likely keep away from it, considering the toxicity of lead. According to the World Health Organization, lead poisoning is an especially huge risk for children. The target consumers for Stanley products are young women around child-bearing age, so understandably, there will be concerns.
The Lawsuits
The initial lawsuit was filed in California by a group of women claiming fraudulent marketing practices because the company failed to disclose the presence of toxic substances in their tumblers.
The focus of the company in its marketing was that the cup was BPA-free and made of stainless steel, conveniently leaving out the important detail of lead as it probably would have led consumers to reconsider buying the product. In the lawsuit, the claimants are seeking a $70 million refund for tumblers purchased in America. Similar lawsuits have been filed in Nevada and the state of Washington.
“What these lawsuits will achieve most is accountability on the part of PMI. They will have to invest a lot in re-establishing trust with their consumers,” says Colorado, personal injury lawyer Amy Gaiennie. However, there is a very limited chance that the lawsuits will result in compensation, seeing that the claimants suffered no harm.
What It Means for Stanley
According to the company, there are only small amounts of lead in the tumbler, and the industry-standard sealant is used to put the bottom part of the tumbler together with the top part. Expert opinions are on the cup maker’s side, with many believing that it’s unlikely that the lead poses any risk to consumers. It would take breaking apart the cup to access the lead-containing pellet, which would be far from the normal usage of the cup.
However, it is important to consider that PMI marketed the mug for outdoor use with the promise of maintaining a drink’s temperature for hours, whether hot or cold. You can never guarantee what happens outdoors with some risks of exposure.
It is unclear what PMI intends to do following the lawsuits. However, even when the lawsuits may not result in liability for personal injury, reputational damage is enormous. A positive reputation for Stanley isn’t off the table; while an expensive exercise can help regain consumer trust, it’s up to PMI to make that call.
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