Bindle, a preferred model of water bottle on Instagram, has recalled its insulated bottles after Shopper Stories discovered they pose a threat of lead poisoning.
Bindle issued a voluntary recall of its dual-compartment water bottles, acknowledging that the dry storage container on the backside comprises a dot of ending solder which can include extra quantities of lead.
“This probably poses an publicity threat to steer if unpackaged meals is positioned within the dry storage compartment,” the corporate stated.
All Bindle bottle sizes and colours are affected. Bindle is telling customers to cease utilizing the dry storage compartment of the bottles instantly and to register to obtain a free restore package.
In its exams of the product, Shopper Stories discovered that the Bindle bottle may expose customers to “extraordinarily excessive” ranges of lead. The advocacy group additionally stated some bottles contained bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical recognized to trigger fertility issues and a few sorts of cancers. Bindle markets the product as BPA-free.
Bindle calls its water jug a “sip and stash” bottle, with an higher compartment that holds a liquid and a backside part appropriate for storing snacks, keys or different private gadgets.
Shopper Stories stated it discovered lead on the bottle’s “sealing dot,” a small, round piece of metallic on the bottle’s base, within the decrease storage compartment. The half is about 10% lead and comprises lead ranges which can be roughly 1,100 instances greater than what’s typically thought of protected, in accordance with the publication, noting that something that comes into contact with the dot is liable to lead contamination.
Shopper Stories is asking on the general public to instantly cease utilizing Bindle merchandise. It additionally has requested the federal Shopper Product Security Fee to analyze.
Kickstarter
Following the report, Bindle issued a shopper security alert acknowledging a “potential lead subject” in its merchandise.
“Latest testing has proven that this soldering dot comprises lead,” the corporate stated in a press release on its web site. “Whereas we consider the small space of lead poses negligible threat to the well being and security of customers, we’re taking this very critically and are engaged on steps to make sure we resolve this subject as shortly as potential.”
The corporate claims it is ready to retrofit current merchandise to get rid of the chance of lead publicity. Bindle can also be providing full refunds on all merchandise to prospects who request them.
Nonetheless, Bindle maintains that the liquid compartment of each bottle is “utterly protected to make use of and drink from.”
“The well being and wellbeing of our prospects continues to be our prime precedence,” Bindle co-founder Houston Max stated in a press release to CBS MoneyWatch. He added that the corporate is “within the strategy of rolling out an answer that might assist treatment any lingering issues.”
Baby well being advocate and activist Tamara Rubin, who runs a small enterprise for shopper items security in addition to a weblog known as “Lead Protected Mama,” first alerted Shopper Stories to the potential well being hazard. In January, she urged customers to instantly cease utilizing Bindle bottles after claiming to have discovered “important lead contamination” within the merchandise’ backside storage chamber.
On the time, she posted a letter to the corporate encouraging its house owners to alert customers of the potential presence of lead in its bottles and to cease promoting them.
Bindle, which was based in 2017 and which raised greater than $40,000 in a Kickstarter marketing campaign, bought an enormous increase the next yr when its merchandise had been featured on Oprah’s “Favourite Issues” record.
