Simple Modern · Insulated Travel Mugs
Simple Modern Classic Tumbler with Straw Lid & Flip Lid Travel Mug
Lower concern. Stainless steel and polypropylene carry minimal PFAS risk.
Simple Modern tumblers use stainless steel and polypropylene without known Teflon-type coating coatings or water-resistant treatments. Core materials pose lower risk.
The better-graded swap
Owala
Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Tumbler
80/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Stainless steel tumbler body, polypropylene lid components
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Simple Modern Classic Tumbler with Straw is made of, ingredients and materials
The tumbler body is stainless steel, which is chemically inert and does not leach metals or compounds into beverages under normal use. The lid and straw components are polypropylene (PP), a thermoplastic with no hazard of this kind on record at temperatures below 100°C (212°F). Stainless steel tumblers avoid the coating degradation and metal leaching risks present in ceramic, aluminum, or non-stick cookware. The straw lid design allows for sipping without repeated lid removal, reducing contact between liquid and plastic components.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Polypropylene lid degradation under heat
Polypropylene softens above 90°C and can off-gas small amounts of volatile organic compounds if exposed to boiling liquid or high-heat dishwashing repeatedly. This product is marketed as a travel mug for hot beverages, creating a use-case tension; actual risk depends on liquid temperature and storage duration.
Lid seal degradation and bacterial growth
Straw lids with flip closures can trap moisture and food residue in crevices if not thoroughly dried between uses. Polypropylene itself does not harbor bacteria, but poor seal maintenance increases risk of mold or biofilm in the straw channel or lid gasket area.
Microplastic shedding from polypropylene straw
Plastic straws, especially single-use or low-cost versions, can shed microparticles when abraded by teeth or beverage friction. Simple Modern does not publicly specify straw material grade or manufacturing standards, so particle shedding rate is unconfirmed but typical for this product category.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Stainless steel leaching (nickel, chromium, molybdenum)
Food-grade stainless steel (typically 304 or 316) does not leach detectable metals into neutral or slightly acidic beverages under normal conditions. Coffee and water present minimal risk; prolonged storage of vinegar-based or high-salt solutions could theoretically increase trace leaching, but this is not documented in tumbler use.
BPA & bisphenols
No recall or testing result indicates BPA or BPS presence in Simple Modern tumbler lids. Polypropylene does not inherently contain these compounds, but manufacturing additives are not disclosed by the brand. Absence of complaint or recall suggests compliance with FDA food-contact plastic rules, but formal certification is not published.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Simple Modern is a consumer drinkware brand with no publicly documented safety certifications, third-party testing disclosures, or major recall history on this product line. The brand does not publish material sourcing transparency or BPA/PFAS avoidance statements on its main product pages, which represents a passive rather than proactive stance on chemical safety communication. No formal controversies or health incidents have been reported in available product review aggregators or safety databases. Their silence on chemical compliance does not indicate a problem, but reflects limited corporate transparency compared to brands with explicit FDA or NSF certifications.
How it compares in its category
Stainless steel tumblers present lower concern for beverage containers compared to ceramic mugs with lead-in-glaze risks and Teflon-type coating-coated drinkware with nonstick degradation hazards. Polypropylene lids are standard across this category and carry no elevated hazard when used at normal temperatures. Comparable brands (Hydro Flask, S'well, YETI) similarly use stainless steel bodies with plastic or silicone lids, with similar or identical disclosure gaps. This product sits in the middle-tier safety profile for travel mugs, solid materials, but brand communication is less robust than premium wellness-focused competitors.
If you buy it
Do not fill with beverages hotter than 80°C (176°F) if using the polypropylene lid for extended periods, as heat can accelerate plastic off-gassing or warping. Hand-wash the lid and straw components rather than dishwasher cycling to extend plastic longevity; polypropylene degrades with repeated high-heat cycles. Replace the lid if visible cracks, discoloration, or odor develop. Stainless steel body will not degrade and can be used indefinitely; it is resistant to denting and corrosion from acidic beverages.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Simple Modern has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Insulated Travel Mugs
Owala
FreeSip Sway Stainless Steel
- Stainless steel body, no interior coating disclosed
- Silicone and plastic lid/valve leachables
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Owala
Stainless Steel Straw Tumbler Route 66
- Stainless steel tumbler, bare uncoated
- Coating degradation and microplastic shedding from exterior print
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Thermos
18 oz. Icon Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Mug
- stainless steel exterior, vacuum insulation, stainless steel interior
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Nickel leaching from stainless steel
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More insulated travel mugs grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.