I was really sad when (in 2014) I discovered that this antique maple syrup bucket was positive for 12,500 ppm Lead!

Originally published in 2014
Re-shared: November 21, 2017
Updated: October 25, 2020

Antique / Vintage Maple syrup collection bucket from New Hampshire.
“Leader” brand: 12,500 ppm lead.
Possibly 60 or 70 years old (in 2014).

When I tested this antique maple syrup bucket in 2014 I was more than disappointed to learn that it was positive for a very high level of Lead.

Why is this a problem?

Given these buckets are typically made of galvanized metal and the Lead is on the surface (as demonstrated by the fact that these items quickly test positive with a reactive agent home test kit like a LeadCheck® swab), this means that there is a high likelihood of transfer of Lead contamination from the bucket to the syrup contained within the bucket.

Not only is there a likely transfer of Lead to the food, but this is the FIRST STEP in the process of harvesting maple syrup (collecting the sap in a bucket). From here the product is slowly heated to evaporate the moisture content of the sap — which means any Lead may actually be concentrated during with the process of concentrating the sap and turning it into the high-sugar end-product of syrup.

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What’s the solution? 

Unfortunately, one might think that the solution is to use a newer maple syrup bucket (and – no matter what – to avoid vintage or antique manufacturing and harvesting equipment when farming). This is only partly a solution, however — as I have found that newer maple syrup sap collection buckets may also have unsafe levels of Lead (also in the surface of the galvanized metal bucket – the surface that touches the food)! This is even true for galvanized syrup harvesting buckets that are marked “Lead Free“!!!!  If you click this link you will see an example of a new Maple Syrup bucket (marked “No Lead”) — that tested positive for 405 ppm Lead with an XRF instrument. Ideally, if there was some way we (as consumers) could convince maple syrup manufacturers to only use stainless steel (non-galvanized) buckets (as well as using stainless – or other truly Lead-free equipment – for all other equipment in the process) – that would be excellent!

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How much Lead is “too much” Lead?

For context, the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe (and illegal) in products “intended for use by children” is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint, glaze or coating and anything 100 ppm or higher in the substrate (in the case of a mug for instance, this would be the base ceramic of the mug). These standards are for XRF-detectable total Lead content (not leach-test results – which is a different standard / different type of testing).

Unfortunately, food manufacturing and preparation equipment (including maple syrup / sap collection buckets) are not regulated in the same way (with the same strict standards) as children’s items – as they are not considered to be “items intended for use by children.” This lack of regulatory standards is why a newer bucket can – rather unbelievably – be labeled “Lead-Free” and still test positive for Lead using XRF technology.

In my opinion, this is a significant regulatory loophole — as children eat food (of course) – and especially in this case – as frankly, I don’t know any children who don’t love maple syrup! As discussed in my film, unfortunately processed food products – and even organic processed food products – (like wine, chocolate and maple syrup) have the potential for Lead to be added at every step of the manufacturing process — with the metal substrates, and painted coatings of harvesting and processing equipment being a significant contributing factor to the Lead content in these products.

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“What have you decided to do about this, Tamara?”

• For my family, I always buy organic (which really may make no difference in avoiding Lead, but buying organic in general helps in avoiding the additional personal and environmental burden of many of the worst insecticides, herbicides, fumigants, and a host of other toxic chemicals routinely used in large-scale mainstream agribusiness today — and it also makes me feel better about doing something positive to support small family farmers).
• I also always buy my maple syrup in glass (again – this has no bearing on whether or not the syrup was potentially contaminated in the manufacturing process, but limits the potential toxicant contamination to the syrup from plastic containers).
• I also have decided to allow organic maple syrup (packaged in glass) in our lives and just make sure it is not used often – and when we do use it, we use it sparingly. [However, given what I just learned as of October 2020 – see below – I am rethinking that decision.)

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Feedback from my readers
Sunday – October 25, 2020

After re-sharing this post on Facebook (October 25, 2020), I got some additional great feedback and information (links) from my readers and friends. Here’s what was shared with me:

1. 1. Christopher said: “Considering maple sap is generally acidic (6.5ish), this is a problem.” and followed up with the following link: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/food/food2market/documents/ph_of_common_foods.pdf
   2. Christopher also shared this link about maple syrup acidity: https://blog.hannainst.com/ph_maple_reverse_osmosis
   3. Jordan said: “Our state lead specialist (Vermont) has seen families poisoned indubitably from syrup – more likely from the actual boiling pan as so many of them are ancient and soldered! Many small and all Large-scale maple ops use plastic tubing rather than buckets, which are only used in very small home operations these days.”
   4. Gina responded: “It’s a requirement that certified organic maple syrup is processed with lead-free equipment.”
   5. Gina also shared this link: Guidelines for Certification of Organic Maple Sap & Syrup
   6. Note: While I was happy to hear that there are regulatory standards when it comes to Lead in the organic certification of Maple Syrup in Vermont, I reiterated (in response to Gina’s comments) that (as noted above) even equipment marked “Lead Free” or “No Lead” can have Lead (per the second maple syrup bucket example posted on this blog – link here.)
   7. Also in reading the document linked in #5 above I was horrified to learn that as long as Maple Syrup is below 250 ppb Lead it is allowed to be considered organic (with other organic standards followed). This is not okay! 250 ppb Lead is simply FAR TOO HIGH for any food standard— and definitely for an acceptable amount of Lead in an organic food item! Candy and dried fruit are considered toxic and unsafe for children when their Lead levels are in the 50 to 100 ppb range. Water is considered toxic with Lead levels above 1 ppb (AAP standard) or 5 ppb (U.S. Federal standard for bottled water) or 15 ppb (U.S. Federal standard for tap water). Organic maple syrup should be at least required to meet or exceed the standards of (not-organic!) dried fruit and candy!

In light of the above revelation (in point #7), I think it would be prudent to confirm that your provider of organic maple syrup does not use any galvanized, brass or otherwise Leaded equipment, and that they have made the transition to full stainless (or at least fully Lead-free) operations. I would also want to see the Lead test results for their syrup, and would personally not be comfortable consuming maple syrup unless the level was below 50 ppb Lead (similar to the concerns with salt.) Additionally, I am also hesitant about the use of plastic equipment in manufacturing (particularly manufacturing that involves heating the food product), so that’s another set of considerations / another inquiry! 

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Thank you for reading and for sharing about this work.

There is literally no one else on the planet doing what I do (using highly-accurate and precise XRF technology to test consumer goods of all types – as suggested by YOU my readers –  and reporting the results on a blog, so this information is freely available to the public so parents can be informed and make safer choices for their families). To make a contribution in support of my independent consumer goods testing and lead poisoning prevention advocacy, click here.  

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama

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