Maker Of Stanley Tumblers Facing Class Action Lawsuit Over Lead Seal
Just as I was thinking my Yeti Tumbler would be the last reusable cup I would ever need to buy, along came the Stanley Quencher tumbler. I still haven’t hopped on the bandwagon. The only Stanley Cup for me currently belongs to the Vegas Golden Knights. I’m hoping it comes back to the Carolina Hurricanes this year. But back to the tumblers. Apparently, they might have a lead problem.
The future of the trendy drinking vessels is looking a bit murky due to some legal troubles. According to USA Today, Stanley is being sued over a seal in the cups. More specifically, a new class action lawsuit claims the company did not disclose the use or presence of lead in its products. The suit was filed earlier this month by a Seattle-based law firm on behalf of two women in California and Nevada. The women, like many Americans, own multiple Stanley Quenchers.
Misled About Lead?
On Stanley’s website, the company writes that it has been transparent about its use of lead and describes how its products are still deemed safe. A few weeks ago the company confirmed the presence of lead by saying, “Rest assured that no lead is present on the surface of any Stanley product that comes into contact with the consumer nor the contents of the product.” In other words, the lead isn’t touching your beverage so, therefore, it isn’t touching you. The only lead in the cup is the vacuum seal dot at the bottom.
While there’s no evidence of the Stanley Quenchers causing any health issues, the customers who initiated the class action suit feel they should have been warned. And what if the cup is dropped and damaged in such a way that the lead does suddenly come into contact with the contents? That point has also been raised in the suit, which the company says it will fight “vigorously.”
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
As a member of Generation X, I might not worry enough about the presence of lead in my life. First of all, I didn’t grow up with these fancy hydration chalices. I drank from a dirty garden hose with a rusty nozzle every summer of my youth. My water tasted metallic and I liked it! And I was surrounded by lead paint. It was on the walls and on my toys. Did you ever put a Matchbox car in your mouth when you were little? Guess what. Lead!
My father loves to tell the story of a family vacation we took when I was a baby. We stayed at an old bed & breakfast somewhere in Quebec. He says the room was equipped with a crib from the 19th Century that he’s certain was made entirely of lead. As a teething infant, I was probably gumming that thing like crazy. But I turned out alright. Mostly.
Foods You Should Probably Skip Air Frying
Large Bone-In Meat
We’re not talking about chicken wings here, we’re talking about large whole chickens. You’re better off sticking to an oven when it comes to cooking them. If you’re wondering why, chicken must be cooked to a specific temperature internally before being consumed. According to the USDA, all poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, air frying this food item doesn’t guarantee an even cook. But hey, at least chicken wings are small enough to get an even crisp. Just make sure you line the air fryer basket first if it’s raw meat.
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Wet Batters
An air fryer is not a deep fryer. So, if you’re looking to toss battered fries, meat cutlets, or battered veggies, think again. There’s a big chance the batter will drip down the base of the machine, causing a big mess and major cleanup after. Bad enough, some people didn’t know you even had to clean an air fryer regularly. No really, someone on Reddit shared that they didn’t wash their air fryer basket after each use. “I don’t think I’ve ever washed it lol. I’ve had it for 8 months and decided to finally wash it today,” they wrote. They continued to say how there was a bunch of “solidified juices” and “fat/ grease” from steak and chicken.
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Cheesy Foods
It’s possible to make your favorite cheesy snacks in an air fryer. But it can get messy. AllRecipes cautions against air frying cheese. This isn’t because of health reasons but for cleanup purposes. They point out that cheese melts fast. The outlet suggests sticking to foods that effectively hold the cheese in place. Maybe, just stick to frozen cheeses like mozzarella sticks.
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Leafy or Chard Greens
Sure you can go ahead and put those Brussels sprouts or broccoli in the air fryer. But skip putting spinach, collard, or chard leaves in. If you haven’t tried it already, light leaves might move and shift around during the cooking process. You may also come across a fairly dry vegetable if you don’t put a little oil with it. And, of course, you don’t want to forget the seasonings.
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Popcorn
Some people have tried it but you probably shouldn’t. Most air fryer models won’t reach the required temperature to pop the kernels. According to Jolly Time Pop Corn, the best popping temperature is between 400 and 460 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, popcorn kernels can become lodged within the air fryer’s heating element, which can potentially cause it to short.
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Pasta, Quinoa, Rice, Grains
Some grains like bread can be cooked in an air fryer. However, it can get a little tricky with lighter breads like toast and English muffins due to the air making them fly around. But anything like pasta, quinoa, and rice doesn’t do too well. Raw grains need to absorb water to cook. But there is some good news. If you have rice that’s already cooked, just add a little oil to reat in the air fryer.
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