Tommee Tippee is preparing to launch a redesigned sippy cup after pictures of the older version showed mold growing inside the valve.
According to NBC Connecticut, the pictures show mold collecting on Tommee Tippee sippy cups despite the owners following the designated cleaning instructions.
"They looked clean from the outside and I followed their cleaning directions, so it never occurred to me before," a Connecticut mother, who did not want to be identified, told NBC Connecticut of her child's Tommee Tippee cup.
The mother says she attempted to boil water and clean the cup with a Q-tip but found mold inside when they opened the valve.
"The entire thing snaps out of the lid to wash. You can't snap them apart to clean inside the insert where the mold is. My husband had to cut it in half," she added.
Now, parents are airing their grievances about the cups on Tommee Tippee’s Facebook page.
According to the posts, parents are upset because the valve collects mold and isn’t easy to open and clean.
NBC Connecticut reported that one mother commented that her 19-month-old daughter has been sick continuously since October and only drank water out of her "favorite cup." She said she plans to file a formal complaint toward the company.
Tommee Tippee issued an apology statement to its customers saying, "Recently our Head Office Team and Careline advisers have spoken with parents directly about their feedback. We understand that the well-being of your little ones is paramount and we can reassure you that we have extensively tested the valves using recommended liquids and our specific cleaning guidelines, and the results have supported our view that when used and cleaned in line with instructions, everything is in order."
Not long after the public apology, Tommee Tippee issued another statement about a new sippee cup to be introduced to stores.
Child health and wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re taking the current concerns around our Sippee cups very seriously. We’ve sold millions of Sippee cups globally and continue to receive great feedback, but we know from recent social media posts that some people have had problems cleaning the valve. For this we sincerely apologise. 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 (see photograph) immediately available to any parents that have concerns. The see-through valve will enable parents to see inside, and give them confidence that the valve is clean, when used in line with recommended instructions. Alternatively, we will be happy to provide parents with a different style cup if they’d prefer. Either option will be provided free of charge. Anyone that would like a see-through valve or alternative cup should contact our Careline toll free on 1-877-248-6922, and one will be sent as quickly as possible. The reported problems only relate to the one-piece valve on the Sippee range of cups, and do not affect any other Tommee Tippee product.
The newly designed cup will include a two piece valve that, according to Tommee Tippee, is easier to clean.
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