A Tale of Two Hydro Flasks: Leaded & Not!
Newer Green (Columbia) Hydro Flask:
#LeadFree!
Tested in August 2017
~~~~~
Older Orange Hydro Flask (pre-2013), center sealing dot on bottom:
177,500 ppm Lead.
Good job on getting the Lead out, Hydro Flask!
For those new to this website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).
The Lead is in the bottom “sealing dot” on the outside of the product (see the center dot in the bottom photo) and does not touch the contents of the water bottle. The leaded sealing dot is usually covered with the same colored powder coating of the water bottle, BUT that coating can wear over time (with normal use) and potentially expose the Lead on the bottom.
Recent Hydro Flasks (2017 and newer, based on what I have tested) seem to be consistently Lead-free! In 2015/2016, Hydro Flask offered to replace their older leaded products with a Lead-free product, so it might be worth giving them a call to ask for a Lead-free replacement if you have an older product!
Here’s are links to some new (Lead-free) Hydroflask products on Amazon:*
18 oz Hydro Flask: $29.95
40 oz Hydro Flask: $42.95
21 oz Hydro Flask: $32.95
For more #SaferChoices for your family, click here.
To make a contribution in support of Lead Safe Mama, LLC’s independent consumer goods testing and Lead poisoning prevention advocacy work, click here. Thank you!
*Amazon links are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking one of these links, Lead Safe mama, llc will receive a small percentage of what you spend, at no extra cost to you! Thank you!
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Hi Tamara, thanks for this update on Hydro Flask!
I contacted them about getting my bottle replaced with a newer, lead-free version and was told that mine (from 2014) is lead-free because they stopped using lead in August 2013. That doesn’t seem to make sense considering you have tested other Hydro Flasks purchased in 2014 & 2015 that have tested positive. Do you think that those purchased in 2014 or 2015 could really have been “old stock” still sitting around from before August 2013? I don’t have anything invested in getting a replacement since ours is still in relatively good condition… if it’s lead-free then I’ll be happy to keep using it and carry on. But I also don’t want to be lulled by information from them that may not be totally accurate.
I appreciate all you do here! Thank you <3
I think it probably has lead, but as long as the sealing dot is covered you are ok. If the cover on the sealing dot wears and you test it with a swab and it is positive, ask for a replacement then.
Do you mean the sealing dot on the outside wearing so that you may touch it or – Do you mean the sealing dot wearing on the inside and exposing the water to lead?
https://tamararubin.com/2020/07/this-is-what-a-leaded-sealing-dot-looks-like-on-a-stainless-steel-water-bottle-please-read-the-full-post-if-you-have-questions/
I just recently bought a fifyfifty stainless steel (no powdered paint). Should I also test it with those 3m lead swab test?
https://www.fiftyfiftybottles.com/products/40oz-1-1l-fifty-fifty-bottle?variant=40023992965
I’m not familiar with the brand. Look at the bottom. Is there a gray dot that is a different color metal from the rest of the bottle? It is likely lead. Is there something covering the bottom (like a sticker? or a metal disk?) there is likely a leaded sealing dot underneath. Just keep an eye on the bottom and make sure the leaded sealing dot does not become exposed.
FYI, I just received it. This is the comments from the company when I asked before actually receiving it. the one i ordered is stainless steel version with no paint cover and there was no “screw on” disk like so many other company’s have such as Manna etc. They said it should have come with it and maybe I had an older model so they will send a replacement one. I have asked for a colored one instead of stainless steel(though I prefer the plain colorless). Hopefully it will include a disk/cover at the bottom. if not, I’ll ahve to look at Hydroflask as its one of very few that actually comes in 40oz and a straw lid. I would include an image if I could but I dont see an upload function. I have sent 2 images via messages to you on FB.
Icy/Hot Hydration products including Fifty-Fifty & Seven-Fifty Vacuum Insulated Bottles are paint coated, with no risk of exposed lead solder with intact paint.
A small solder plug is in the outer wall of two-wall vacuum insulated bottles. This construction method is industry standard and has been used by all bottle companies for years. The solder plug is located in the outer wall and is NEVER in contact with food or drink. The inner wall is what contains the food product and has no contact with the outer wall. That gap between the inner and outer walls is what creates the insulating vacuum and keeps your food or drink hot or cold.
All of our products are subject frequently to independent third-party lab testing, for compliance with stringent FDA Food GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) compliance. In addition to eliminate the risk of exposed lead solder even further, we recently created a stainless-steel metal disk, which is welded over the bottom of the solder plug. This stainless-steel disk completely eliminates the risk of exposure to the solder plug even if the protective paint covering is removed from the bottom of the bottle.
Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Tamara, I found your site while standing in a Target and googling lead-free kitchenware. Little did I know that a few months later you would save Zoey’s life. With all my heart, thank you.
Hi Tamara, if I buy a double walled vacuum bottle from a brand with little recognition, how do I make sure there is no lead? Is the only place where there would be lead the solder point on the outside? Can powder coated paint also contain or the inside of the bottle contain lead? If I buy a kit where should I test it?
Hi Thomas,
You cannot test something like this with a home test kit. Is there a specific one you have in mind?
Tamara
No, just a no name brand from China. After learning that their regulation laws are much more lax, I decided not to however. I assume you would need an xrf or to send it to a lab?
Wow,
I’m in New Zealand and stumbled upon your web site when looking at a “Briscoes”, appliance and manchester shop here in NZ, through a sequence of clicks. Im a young early 60’s, I have NEVER, thought of lead in anything other than paint and insecticides and other toxic stuff in all household dressings, inc carpet, wall paper, paint.
I am so amazed, I was going to purchase new cups, well now I will purchase they type of cups your advocating.
The world is a messed up place, hence lead being allowed in so many materials, I’m getting rid of all my plastic containers too.
Its all about the money!!!! lead, insecticides in wallpaper glue, cars being toxic due to the plastercizers used in making them apart from anything else.
I’d so like to move to Mexico and live in an earth ship home.
Thank you for doing what you do, I am so sorry to hear your children were poisoned, all the very best Barbs
Hi I bought a hydro flask 1 gallon that is colored green on the outside just yesterday do I have to worry about any toxins or any lead?
I’ve read your articles about hydroflask and the bottom seal. I’m attaching a photo of the bottom of my well used pretty old hydroflask. Does the paint need to be pealing off, or the seal coating coming off, or does there need to be a crack in the actual seal on the bottom for the lead to leach out?
Thanks!!
I saw a video where it was stated that hydroflask sprays aluminum on the inside of the bottle. Do you know if that is true?
The new Tupperware Big T SS tumblers are lead free, too!