Q. Do Weck brand jars have Lead in the glass?
A. Yes. When tested with an XRF instrument this newer (2014) Weck canning jar tested positive for 142 ppm Lead.
For context: the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in an item intended for children is anything 90 ppm lead or higher in the paint glaze or coating or anything 100 ppm or higher in the substrate. Kitchenware and glassware are not considered “items intended for children” and are therefore not regulated in the same way.
When I originally posted this (2014), a reader (Tricia) asked me if this was safe and this is my response to her:
Hi Tricia,
I can’t make that call – as to whether or not they are safe. If you have concerns I think the best place to start would be to call Weck and ask them if they do leach testing and if they say “yes” – ask them if their leach-testing specifically replicates the conditions of long term fermenting of acidic contents. [The level noted above is testing that was done with an XRF instrument, which is distinctly different from leach testing.]
If they have done leach-testing and they can show you their white papers (documents showing the results of their leach-testing) – you should be good.
The level I found was very low (in the 140s) especially compared to the 300,000 to 500,000 ppm often found in leaded crystal… but I personally would not want to eat or drink something that was long-term fermented (or stored/pickled/canned) in a jar that tested positive for any amount of Lead.
Another thing you and your group could do is that maybe 10 of you could each send me a jar – and label each jar with a sticker or include a note that tells me the year and approximate date purchased as well as the location/ store/ state/ city purchased – and we can test each of these as a random sampling to see if that is consistent with the testing of the jar I tested up in Seattle (the one I posted on Facebook today.)
Tamara
2015 UPDATE: After I originally posted this in 2014 I spoke with Weck directly. Weck then sent me a case of their jars – each of a different model and size, each newly manufactured/ their current batch (c. 2015). All of the jars and lids they sent me tested positive for lead in the same range as this one (which is also the same range of others I had tested previously.)
Here’s a link to some #LeadSafe choices on Amazon!*
8 oz #leadsafe clear glass jars
16 oz #leadsafe clear glass jars
32 oz #leadsafe clear glass jars
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!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Shelah says
Hello, thx for all this info.! It’s great! I see what your saying about the ball jars being a possible better option, but what do you think about the best lid option to pair with the jar? Doesn’t the canning lid have bpa in it and weird metals? Any advice to shed some light on this would be great. Thx!!
Tamara says
I am actually working on developing a solution to this, so I am going to hold off on answering this for now, but I suggest you follow my work! I have not been able to find a non-toxic jar lid that I am happy with.
Sabrina says
Le Parfait jars have bail-closure glass lids, with rubber gaskets. They told me that there is absolutely no lead in their glass, which is why my Weck jars are sitting in my garage empty.
https://www.mountainfeed.com/products/le-parfait-7-ounce-bail-closure-canning-jars-12
Nishi says
anchor hocking glass containers are lead free
Tamara says
Most new ones are, yes. Some vintage Anchor brand products have low levels of lead.
Krystle Lambert says
Hi Tamara! I was wondering if you were able to find a suitable nontoxic lid to pair with the ball jars? Thank you! I’m searching for the best breast milk and baby food storage solution.
Tamara says
Hi Krystle – I am still working on finding the perfect lid.
– Tamara
Callie Batts says
Any updates to finding the perfect lid? I store breastmilk in ball jars. Thank you!
Adam says
Hi Tamara, what do you think about this article?
https://www.allaboutjars.com/content/do-weck-jars-contain-lead
Speciifically the reference of the author leach testing the Weck jars and finding absolutly no detectable lead in the results?
Thanks
Adam
Sabrina says
I just read the link, thanks, Adam. I’m just going to wonder why an overnight test is considered comparable to a year in a pantry for canned goods. Perhaps we should ask our own CPSC to leach-test these jars. Or even better, ask our elected representatives to mandate that consumer products in which food is to be stored must be third-party tested for leaching of toxins, including lead.
Colleen says
I have used these jars to store pantry baking items like flour and sugar. Do these pose a risk to have the lead leached into this food? Thank you for all of the work you do!