One Major Starbucks Mug Recall Left Customers With Injuries

Starbucks gift sets can be the perfect surprise for anyone on your list — including yourself. However, even the best gift can go awry if it may harm the recipient. In 2023, what many believed was a stylish mug joined the lineup of Starbucks recalls that affected millions when Nestlé USA recalled over 440,000 Starbucks-branded mugs due to burns and cuts being reported by users. The mugs donned eye-catching metallic colors that made them a stylish choice for a morning coffee or warm drink. However, the mugs would overheat when filled with hot liquid, or when microwaved, leading to possible burns or even deep cuts in the event of the mug shattering.

The metallic mugs came in gift sets that included Starbucks holiday coffee or hot cocoa and either an 11- or 16-ounce mug. The sets were sold at Walmart, Target, and Nexcom, both in-store and online. Twelve incidents of the mugs breaking from overheating were reported, with ten of them causing injuries, one of which required medical attention. Of the injuries, nine mug users received severe burns or blisters on their hands from the extreme temperatures, and one individual was cut. Consumers pour and reheat hot liquids in mugs all the time, but metallic Starbucks cups are another one of the things you should never put in a microwave.

Starbucks mugs are famously collectible — and these cups sell like hotcakes on resale sites — but it seems the Starbucks metallic ceramic mugs of 2023 were never meant to be. The metallic coating that made them such an adorable gift is also what made them so dangerous when heated up. Thermal behavior varies depending on the material, but a study published by Science Direct delivers evidence that metallic coating specifically causes higher temperatures and prolonged heat retention in mugs, particularly on the handle. These hotter temperatures and longer cooling times pose an increased risk for burns to the user.

The higher burn risk isn't the only downside to metallic coating on drinkware, either. Metallic-coated drinkware can cause deeper burn wounds, leading to more severe injuries and extended healing times. The higher temperatures of the mug can also create the perfect scenario for thermal shock. Thermal shock happens when the materials used in cookware expand and contract differently due to sudden, extreme temperature changes. This phenomenon can cause drinkware to instantly crack or shatter. Since metallic coating causes higher temperatures and prolonged heat retention, the risk of thermal shock is higher.