Made in Mexico Crate & Barrel “Miguel Highball” Glass: Lead-Free (Click for my guide to buying Lead-free glassware!)

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Made In Mexico Crate & Barrel "Miguel Highball" Drinking Glass: Lead Free (Click for guidelines to buy Lead Free glasses!)

 


For those new to this website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February 2023 (March 2023 print edition).


Published: July 9, 2018
Updated: November 21, 2023

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When tested with an XRF instrument, this Crate & Barrel “Miguel Highball” drinking glass (Made in Mexico) had the following readings (the glass item pictured was tested multiple times to confirm these results):

  • Lead (Pb): Negative (Non-detect/ND)
  • Mercury (Hg): Negative (Non-detect/ND)
  • Cadmium (Cd): Negative (Non-detect/ND)
  • Arsenic (As): Negative (Non-detect/ND)

Crate & Barrel products have gone either way over the past decade or more (unleaded or Leaded), although many (but not all) of their newer products (c. 2018 and later) have been either Lead-free or at least Lead-safe (under 90 ppm Lead).

See more Crate & Barrel items that Lead Safe Mama, LLC has tested by clicking this link.


In terms of purchasing guidelines for clear glasses/ glassware/ drinkware, here are some considerations:

  1. Country Of Origin:
  2. Tinted Glass:
  3. Recycled Glass:
    • Drinking glassware made of post-consumer recycled materials (that often have a slight blue/green tint like this one) is usually positive for Lead (in varying levels). Here’s an example of that. So again, the glass pictured above is an exception.
    • The exception to the concern for Lead in recycled glassware is when products are made of pre-consumer (or “virgin”) glass that has been “recycled.”
      • A lot of companies “greenwash” their products by saying in their marketing materials that their products are made of “recycled glass” — letting the customers believe the company is using glass from consumer recycling streams to make their product (and therefore, in some way, helping the environment by not using virgin materials). Manufacturers often do this to intentionally mislead customers — to make the company seem better from a sustainability perspective when in fact they are using scrap virgin glass from within the factory (so not truly recycled glass). In 2023, Corelle is currently greenwashing its glass products in this way.
  4. Clear (Non-Fancy) Glass in Brick & Mortar USA Stores:
    • Ikea, Walmart, K-Mart, and Target (and other popular stores) have LOTS of inexpensive options in unpainted/ undecorated clear glass that are generally Lead-free.
    • Exception: Avoid “fancy” products sold in these stores — specifically products that are marketed as “Lead-Free crystal.” Lead-free crystal items can test positive for high levels of Antimony (a known carcinogen). Antimony has been added to many of these items in the place of Lead to impart some of the qualities previously achieved through the addition of Lead. One brand with high-Antimony “Lead-free” options (a brand to avoid) is Riedel.
  5. Known Lead-Free Brands:
  6. Alternative Glassware (earn your “crunchy” card!):
    • One of my favorite inexpensive Lead-free choices for drinking glasses is new Ball jars!
  7. Leaded Crystal:
  8. Considering Vintage? Stick with unpainted & look for Press Lines:

Some specific examples of Lead-free (and Lead-safe) glassware choices
Updated: November 21, 2023

As always, please let me know if you have any questions! I will do my best to answer them personally as soon as I have a moment, although it may take a while as I have disabled (Lead-poisoned) kiddos underfoot, 24/7 these days! Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing articles from the Lead Safe Mama website with your friends, families, and community!

Tamara Rubin
Owner — Lead Safe Mama, LLC
#LeadSafeMama 

Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of our links, Lead Safe Mama, LLC may receive a small percentage of what you spend at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our advocacy work in this way.

Made In Mexico Crate & Barrel "Miguel Highball" Drinking Glass: Lead Free (Click for guidelines to buy Lead Free glasses!)

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20 Comments

  1. Hey!

    Thank you for this information! In regards to you recommendation for getting Libbey brand cups, I’ve seen that a large part of their inventory is ‘Made in Mexico.’

    Is it still safe to get or should it be avoided?

    1. Hi Ugo,

      Libbey is an exception (to my “avoid things from Mexico” rule) and is generally safe. I don’t believe I have ever tested a Libbey brand glassware product that was positive for Lead in any amount, although also in my testing I have not noted the country of manufacture for most of the Libbey products (I don’t believe it is marked on the product itself, or at least I do not recall seeing any obvious country of origin markings on their products.)

      Also perhaps to clarify – I never recommend any products that have decals or painted markings because the sourcing of the paint on the design can change an may have Lead in the future (even if a particular year of manufacture of the same product was Lead-free.)

      Tamara

    1. Hi Kimberly! Thanks for commenting.

      I haven’t tested the colored Libbey glasses so I really cannot comment on those. I like 16 oz Ball jars personally (for most of my water and coffee and everything else too!): https://amzn.to/2HX7Ec1. (aflink)

      Tamara

  2. Dear Tamara,

    I recently purchased a clear glass picture that resembles the old Hi-C picture in shape. It was made in Mexico and I bought it at Target. Do you know if this is a lead-free product?

    Thanks in advance for all the work you do,

    Debra Sue

  3. Hi! I am looking into buying some Trendglas Jena (Formerly Jenaer glas) teapots and glass dishes from Germany. They sent me documentation which shows the lead level is <0.01, and cadmium as <0.001. The company advertises as lead-free. Would those amounts be a source of worry in your opinion? Thank you for your time and consideration.

  4. Dear Tamara,
    I’ve stumbled across your website when I have been trying to do research on lead and cadmium. Your website is very helpful. I wish we had more information about this topic. I got rid of enamel, glazed ceramic, old vintage Pyrex glassware from my in-laws, citrus squeezer from my kitchen. It is kind of sad, but I am committed to go plastic free and lead/cadmium free for our family’s health. Nothing is worth the cost of our health!
    I have a Mikasa highball glass that we purchased 3 years ago.
    Here is the link
    https://www.amazon.com/Mikasa-Cheers-Metallic-Highball-18-Ounce/dp/B01A0J7JFE

    Tamara, would you happen to know if this has any toxic material on it? Mikasa promotes their crystals to be lead-free, but I could not find anything on this particular type of glasses. Thank you.

  5. Hi. Have you tested the crinkle version of Libbey drinking glasses? Wondering if this makes a difference?
    Thank you

  6. Hi Tamara, Thank you for taking the time to devote all your time and effort into researching and testing for the sake of better educating and informing the public. I was wondering if you have ever tested any Lenox glassware, particularly wine glasses, drinking glassware, and decanters. I purchased numerous of these items back in 2009 and now wonder if there is a way to know whether these items may have lead in them. I sent a message to Lenox regarding this concern and I am awaiting their response. I am wondering if there is any other way, outside of testing, to know whether glassware may have lead. Thank you for your help and time.

    1. Hi Lorraine! Thanks for commenting. Do you recall if they were sold as “crystal” or specifically as “leaded crystal” when you purchased them? Most glassware is not marked with a brand or logo and I don’t have the time to research the origin of pieces based on patterns (in most cases) – so while I don’t recall testing Lenox glassware it is possible that I have.

      Tamara

  7. Hi,

    Thanks for all your testing and articles. I was wondering if you knew about crisa glass. They say it’s safe, but is fron mexico.

    Thanks!

  8. Hi Tamara..as a wedding gift 30 years ago we received Mexican hand blown stemware
    . Green tint…not sure if there is lead. Our daughter would like them for everyday use. Do you know or more importantly how can I test at home for lead? Do u suggest a kit?

    1. You cannot test these at home. They are likely high Lead. In the absence of testing I would not use them.

      Here’s one example: https://tamararubin.com/2017/02/starbucks-coffee-recycled-green-glass-tumbler-1732-ppm-lead/

      Here’s a post about testing dishes: https://tamararubin.com/2017/02/ask-tamara-q-can-i-test-my-dishes-for-lead-with-a-leadcheck-swab-a-sometimes-but-not-always-click-to-read-more/

      Here’s a post about things you can test at home:
      https://tamararubin.com/2017/11/where/

      Here’s a post about sending me something for testing:
      https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/

      Tamara

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