Many vintage tins are positive for Lead and other toxicants (for example: Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic) and I would be very wary about using vintage tins for your holiday cookie exchanges (among other food-use purposes!) New Lead-free tins can be purchased at Dollar Tree stores (or similar) and are much safer for food use applications.
For context: The amount of Lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is 90 ppm Lead or higher. Antiques and vintage items are not regulated and in most cases it is not required to mark them as containing lead (and being potentially hazardous) as it is required with many newly manufactured items.
When tested with an XRF instrument this antique “An-Du-Septic” Dustless Crayon Artista Water Colors Tin was positive for 73,800 ppm Lead (in the black and yellow paint on the outside!)
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As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
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