2013 Riedel Crystal Goblet: 300,000 ppm lead.
Why is Lead in crystal glassware a problem?
Lead can begin leaching into the contents of a leaded crystal goblet immediately. The more acidic the contents of the glass the more quickly lead will leach into the beverage and the longer the beverage spends in the goblet the more lead will leach. [Wine, juice & champagne are all very acidic. Even water and milk have some degree of acidity.] Luckily in 2017 I learned that Riedel is now making lead-free crystal goblets and they are even available at Target and fairly inexpensive too! [You can see our testing of those goblets on a video here!]
For context, the amount of Lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children (made today) is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint, glaze or coating and anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate. Most leaded crystal glasses fall within the range of 300,000 to 500,000 ppm Lead (30% to 50% Lead!)
Here’s a post with more information about leaded crystal.
Please note: there is a LOT of propaganda out there published by the crystal glassware industry that claims Leaded crystal is safe to use when used as intended. This is industry spun information and is simply not true or correct and the claims they make do not rely on the latest science (which fully disproves the industry claims.) Please read this post that I wrote recently about a child who was likely poisoned by drinking juice out of a crystal glass every day.
What should I do with my Leaded crystal?
- Return it to the manufacturer (if they still exist) and ask for a full refund (or newly manufactured Lead-free replacement products if they have them). Your argument for asking for a refund: You had no idea when you bought them that they were made of 30% Lead and the advertising / marketing materials did not make that clear (if they were marked at all.)
- Toss it (make sure it gets broken when you dispose of it if you choose this route!)
You can read more about my thoughts on this conundrum here.
Here’s are some links to several #LeadFree wine glass choices on Amazon!*
- Set of two wine glasses
- Set of four glasses and decanter
- Set of four wine glasses
- Set of four wine glasses
For more #SaferChoices for your family, click here.
To make a contribution in support of my independent consumer goods testing and lead poisoning prevention advocacy work, click here. Thank you!
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
*Amazon links are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking one of these links I will receive a small percentage of what you spend, at no extra cost to you! Thank you!
Hi Tamara,
Magnetic Tiles are very popular and would like to buy a set for my little nephews. Both of them had bone marrow transplants and I don’t want to expose them to lead. They are 5 & 4 yrs old. If you have any other lead free toy information please share.
Thank you
Sure! Thanks for commenting Jeanne!
If you just put “Toy” or “Toys” in the search bar on the website you will come up with a lot of toys I have tested (both new and vintage.) The Magnatile style toys are in there and there is a specific issue with one style of those toys… the ones that have the circular metal exposed connection points (I call them grommets for lack of a better word). The exposed ones often test positive for trace levels of Arsenic and sometimes even Mercury (usually in the 20 to 60 ppm range.) Since babies (and really – kids of all ages) tend to put these in their mouth or use them as a fidget, I prefer the new type where there are no exposed metal connector points.
Separate from toxicity concerns – I am always wary of this sort of toy and feel it should be a very closely watched activity – because who knows if they pieces might fail and have the magnets fall out… and then a kid could be dead (if they swallow two magnets they can pinch their intestines on the way down and they bleed to death with internal bleeding.) So truly find out the oral behavior concerns of any child (of any age) that you might give something like this to before you gift it. Other than that I think these are an EXCELLENT TOY… very stimulating to the imagination and fine and gross motor skills….however my personal choice over everything (to encourage that type of activity and learning- without the potential danger that a child could inadvertently swallow magnets if the toy fails) is Legos. You can NEVER gift children TOO MANY lego sets!!! It’s simply not possible – they are always a welcome addition (at least they have been for the past 2+ decades of parenting boys in my home!)
Here’s a Magnatile-style post demonstrating the above: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/2014-dcl-merchsource-magnatile-style-magnetic-tile-toys-18-2-ppm-arsenic-in-the-metal-hollow-rivets/
Here’s my Lego post: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/asktamara-are-legos-nontoxic-lead-safe-lead-free/
Avoid vintage Legos though, more on that here: https://tamararubin.com/category/legos/
Tamara
I have clear goblets that look just like the ones above, but have no writing…no way to know if they are Riedel or what. I’m pretty sure they came from a thrift store. Would you assume they have lead?
Dear Tamara,
I received wine glasses as a wedding gift. They are from Bohemia Crystal. I emailed the company and they said the range I have is lead-free crystal. I asked if they mean zero lead or <24% lead, and they said zero.
Do you think it is safe to assume that they are indeed lead free? https://amzn.to/3379jG9 (updated with Tamara’s affiliate link).
Hi Nidhi,
I would expect these would actually be Lead-free since they are advertised as Lead-free, however there is a chance that they are not telling the truth in their advertising. In most cases glassware that advertises to be lead free (and is also free of decorative painted markings or decorative elements made of other materials) is usually actually lead-free.
Tamara
This company Bohemia Crystal also sells Tori Titanium wine glasses. It says:
The glasses are made with a titanium crystal composition that is lead-free and surpasses European standards and ensures terrific clarity and brilliance.
Says lead free, what about the composition with titanium? Safe?
I don’t know – I would have to test. Typically Lead-free crystal tests positive for high levels of Antimony (a known carcinogen.)
T