Pacific Market International, the creators of the viral Stanley drinking cup product, is facing several lawsuits over the cups containing a small amount of lead.
Lawsuits have been filed in California, Nevada, and Washington. They come several months after the iconic drinking cup went viral on social media, with footage shared online of customers flocking to purchase these cups. The lawsuits claim that lead is used as part of the cup’s construction and that PMI did not reveal this to the public until last month.
“PMI has marketed its products to the public for years as a safe, practical item especially suitable for young women,” one of the lawsuits read. “But PMI did not disclose its use of lead in manufacturing until January 2024. Rather, it advertises its cups as being “BPA-free” and made of stainless steel while omitting another key ingredient used in its vacuum seal: lead.”
Last month, a Stanley spokesperson confirmed that lead is used when manufacturing the cup. However, the drinker would only be exposed to lead if the cup were to become damaged.
On Stanley’s website, it clarifies that “some” lead is used to create the cup’s “vacuum insulation technology.” The lead inside the cup is covered with “a durable stainless steel layer,” which makes it inaccessible to drinkers.
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Children who are exposed to lead can suffer a variety of side effects, including developmental delay, weight loss, and seizures. For adults, they can suffer from joint and muscle pain, high blood pressure, and mood disorders, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The hashtag #StanleyCup has led to over 6.8 billion views on the video platform TikTok. Additionally, the annual Stanley sales in 2023 were projected to top $750 million, according to data in late December.