The Verdict List

Ingredient glossary

Avoid entirely

Lead (in solder and metal parts)

Last reviewed

Researched & reviewed by The Verdict List Editorial Team

What it is

Lead is a toxic metal that can be present in some solders, the metal alloys used to join or seal metal parts. In stainless children's cups the place to look is the base or seam, where a solder dot or bead may seal the bottom of an insulated, double-walled cup.

Why it's flagged

CPSC has recalled several stainless children's cups because lead exceeded the federal lead content ban or because a detached base exposed a lead-containing solder dot. They include Green Sprouts (November 2022, about 10,500 units), CUPKIN (July 2023, about 346,000), and LAOION, PandaEar, Tiblue and Klickpick Home (November 2023). Each recall names specific products.

How concerned to be

These recalls concern particular cups and do not show that stainless steel or stainless cups in general contain lead. They show that base and joint construction matters as much as the steel grade, so we record base and solder construction as its own field and say whether the evidence is a manufacturer's statement or an independent verification. For a cup that is under recall, CPSC's notices tell families to stop using it and take it away from children.

What it's called on a label

Look for any of these on an ingredient list: Lead solder, Lead content, Solder bead, Lead free, Lead-free solder, No solder.

Sources

  1. Green Sprouts Recalls Toddlers’ Stainless Steel Bottles and Cups Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (2022)
  2. Soojimus Recalls CUPKIN Stainless Steel Children’s Cups Due to Violation of Federal Lead Content Ban, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (2023)
  3. PandaEar Recalls Stainless Steel Children’s Cups Due to Violation of Federal Lead Content Ban, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (2023)