Parenting

Tommee Tippee Responds To Complaints Of Mold In Their Sippy Cups

by Ashley Austrew

Tommee Tippee offers to replace cups free of charge

Earlier this week, the internet went crazy when a mom revealed her friend’s Tommee Tippee Sippee Cup was growing mold in it’s leak-proof valve. In a post on Facebook, the mom shared photos of the inside of the valve, which a dad had cracked open while trying to figure out why his son wasn’t feeling well.

The mom wrote that despite cleaning the cups by hand and in the dishwasher, the mold had accumulated anyway because the leak-proof valve cannot be opened without rendering the cup unusable. Her post was shared over 46,000 times, and prompted hundreds of other parents to investigate their own Tommee Tippee Sippees, where they discovered the same exact issue.

It’s not uncommon for mold to accumulate in the small valves found on spill-proof cups. In fact, as we’ve written about in the past, most cups will grow mold if they aren’t totally disassembled and thoroughly sanitized between each use. The difference here is the part of the cup that’s growing mold isn’t accessible at all without actually breaking it, and that’s why Tommee Tippee has responded to complaints by completely changing their product.

In a statement released today, Tommee Tippee announced they’re designing a brand new kind of Sippee cup with a two-piece valve that’s easier to clean. Their statement reads:

“We want everyone to be happy with our products, and we always want to exceed expectations. We’ve therefore listened to our customers, and will be launching a new Sippee cup in the next few months. The new cup will have a two-piece valve that can be used with different types of liquid and is easier to clean.
In the meantime, we are making transparent, see-through valves immediately available to parents that have concerns. The see-through valve will enable parents to see inside, and give you confidence that the valve is clean. Alternatively, we will be happy to provide you with a different style cup if you prefer. Either option will be provided free of charge.”

If you have a current model Sippee cup and would like to get either the see-through replacement valve or a different type of cup, you can do so by contacting Tommee Tippee’s Careline at 1-877-248-6922. Either option will be provided free of charge.

The company also recommends heading to their website for answers to frequently asked questions, as well as video tutorials on how to properly sanitize their cups.