Small newer Weck baby food canning jar with glass lid, as high as 159 +/- 18 ppm Lead [100 is unsafe for kids]
XRF Testing of Clear Glass Weck Jars
The test results shared in this blog post are for the taller of the two “baby food”-size jars pictured here (this is the jar on the left in the image below). Continue scrolling down below the images for the full XRF test results for this recently-manufactured Weck brand reusable glass baby food canning jar.
Do all Weck brand canning jars test positive for Lead?
Unfortunately, the Weck jars (made in Germany) consistently have a higher amount of Lead in the glass than other brands of jars I have tested — especially compared to other brands of reusable glass baby food jars, many of which have tested completely Lead-free.
How much Lead is “too much” Lead?
The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe (and illegal) in an item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, glaze or coating, and anything 100 ppm or higher in the substrate. Given this is a glass jar without any kind of paint or coating, the 100 ppm limit would apply IF this were sold as an item intended for use by children (which technically – it is not!)
While the amount of Lead found in these jars is not necessarily illegal (it could be argued that they are “close to” the substrate Lead limit of 100 ppm for items intended for use by children and it could also be argued that they are “simply very small glass canning jars” and as such not “intended for use by children”) it is concerning — as they are the highest-Lead-content reusable baby food-size canning jars that I have found in my 10+ years of doing XRF testing of consumer goods.
What does Weck have to say about this concern?
When I first discovered this problem with Weck jars (perhaps 5 or 6 years ago), Weck contacted me directly, and said that they were quite surprised by my test results. We had a good (informative / friendly) conversation, and they followed up by sending me a full box of new product (direct from the factory) for additional testing (to make sure I was not “finding Lead as a result of possible contamination from usage” somehow – an unlikely concern, given how much Lead was found – but a response I hear from manufacturers quite often in response to my findings). I then tested all of the examples – new products sent directly from the factory / from the manufacturer – and they all tested equally positive for Lead (at levels comparable to what I had previously found in this brand of products.)
Does the amount of Lead found in these jars present an actual problem?
My main concern with the Lead levels found in these jars is that mothers often use them for the long-term freezer storage of baby foods and breast milk… and I don’t know that any leach-testing done by the manufacturer has taken into account the implications of potential long-term freezer storage.
While it is very likely that they are safe from a leaching standpoint (even though it is potentially an unknown with long-term storage) given the Lead content, I do not (and would never) recommend Weck jars – especially since there are several 100% Lead-free options out there:
- Here’s one brand of baby food jar that has consistently tested negative for Lead in the glass – link.
- Here’s a second brand of baby food jar that has also consistently tested negative for Lead in the glass – link.
Here is a full set of XRF test results, for the jar pictured here:
60-second test on bottom of jar (reading #1):
- Lead (Pb): 120 +/- 17 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 36 +/- 18 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 427 +/- 136 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 147 +/- 30 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 418 +/- 53 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Barium (Ba): Negative / Non-Detect
- Chromium (Cr): Negative / Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Negative / Non-Detect
60-second test on bottom of jar (reading #2):
- Lead (Pb): 144 +/- 18 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 97 +/- 47 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): 40 +/- 18 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 43 +/- 19 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 616 +/- 150 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 164 +/- 33 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 412 +/- 55 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Chromium (Cr): Negative / Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Negative / Non-Detect
Continue reading below the images for test results for additional components.
60-second test on side of jar (reading #3):
60-second test on side of jar (reading #3):- Lead (Pb): 140 +/- 17 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 127 +/- 45 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): 35 +/- 17 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 34 +/- 14 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 49 +/- 18 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 525 +/- 138 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 146 +/- 27 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 378 +/- 45 ppm
- Indium (In): 21 +/- 10 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Chromium (Cr): Negative / Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Negative / Non-Detect
60-second test on side of jar (reading #4):
- Lead (Pb): 159 +/- 18 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 92 +/- 44 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 410 +/- 131 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 173 +/- 31 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 397 +/- 51 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Chromium (Cr): Negative / Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Negative / Non-Detect
Continue reading below the images for test results for additional components.
60-second test on lid of jar (reading #5):
- Lead (Pb): 107 +/- 15 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 298 +/- 120 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 111 +/- 25 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 345 +/- 45 ppm
- Barium (Ba): Negative / Non-Detect
- Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Chromium (Cr): Negative / Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Negative / Non-Detect
Continue reading below the images for test results for additional components.
60-second test on orange rubber gasket (reading #6):
60-second test on orange rubber gasket (reading #6):- Barium (Ba): 375 +/- 127 ppm
- Bromine (Br): 28 +/- 7 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 15,700 +/- 200 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 479 +/- 33 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 2,988 +/- 286 ppm
- Lead (Pb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Chromium (Cr): Negative / Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Negative / Non-Detect
60-second test on metal lid clips (reading #7):
Stainless Steel 301
- Chromium (Cr): 146,800 +/- 1,100 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 2,758 +/- 450 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 73,200 +/- 1,500 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 761,300 +/- 2,300 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 828 +/- 196 ppm
- Molybdenum (Mo): 1,802 +/- 139 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 9,835 +/- 1,157
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama 
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Thanks for all your jar posts! Have you ever tested any hinged glass storage containers? I am hunting for hinged food storage jars–all of our pantry is essentially in hinged jars of various unknown brands purchased over the years at places like Ross or Marshall’s. I’d like to replace them all with a more trustworthy known brand that have hinged tops. What the heck is the hinge made of anyway? I couldn’t find any information on what the hinges are made of anyway. Thanks!
Are these tests on the outside of inside of the jars? Would that make a difference? Is it safe to assume that other sizes of jars from this company also have the same levels? I realize icky testing will give a concrete answer.
We have invested in a lot of Weck jars because we wanted to avoid the plastic lining on most canning jar lids. Now I’m not sure what to do. Are they safe for short term storage in the refrigerator? Storage of dried goods? Would heating food in them be more likely to cause leaching? Please help!
They are likely not leaching at the time of manufacture. My concern is that I don’t know if the company has done leach testing for long term storage of acidic foods. I expect it is unlikely to be leaching at those levels and in those conditions, but I cannot say for sure as I don’t expect that the company has likely studied leaching under those conditions (which I think would be expected usage for their products.) I could be wrong about that. You might learn more from contacting the company. I know they were also surprised when I found Lead in their products – they even sent me new product to test at the time and that new product also tested positive.
Tamara
Tamara, I emailed Weck before year end 2020 about lead content. They claim “Total elimination of lead in the glass is not possible.
The small percentage detected is minimal and migration into the food impossible.
The German food and drug administration responsible for Food safety is testing the composition of the glass mixture, as well as the rubber ring annually.”— they attached a PDF with the 2019 report which simply says ‘pass’. Thought you may find it interesting.
Hi Tamara
I have over $1000 worth of Weck jars to avoid bpa.
I now don’t know what to do. I have apple sauce in some since a few years back. If I send it to you could you test it for leaching lead?
Better yet how could I do that?
BPA is just one phthalate next thing you know it’s phthalate of every letter in the alphabet.
Where do you get the best lids and jars especially these days during a pandemic.
“Given this is a glass jar without any kind of paint or coating, the 100 ppm limit would apply IF this were sold as an item intended for use by children (which technically – it is not!)” – how can that be when its a BABY FOOD JAR?
Additionally I see mamy times you reference items making lead dust and / or leaching – how wouldn’t that apply to any items that test high in lead?
Genuinely asking so I can understand, I’m so thankful for your work
This is (technically) not a high lead item. In glass high levels of lead are 5,000 ppm – 10,000 ppm etc. Leach testing has been done on leaded crystal to confirm hazards and leaded crystal is generally 100,000 to 500,000 ppm lead. But there has not been enough study of long-term food storage in lower levels of glass. This article has more info: https://tamararubin.com/2017/04/pellegrino-green-glass-water-bottle-116-ppm-lead-please-click-read-to-learn-more/
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Hi, Tamara. I just discovered your site as I, too, am considering switching to Weck jars to avoid plastic poisoning. It would be great if you could test Le Parfait or Quattro Stagioni brands as they’re the only other two (that I’ve found so far) that might actually be plastic-free. Thank you for this informative resource and all your research.
Have you tested any fully glass jars that are 100% lead free? Unfortunately the two “safe” jars you linked to have plastic lids which I imagine are a lot more toxic than the Weck jars bc plastic is highly unstable and leaches toxic chemicals into food very easily so you can basically guarantee they are doing so, whereas glass is a lot more stable and you haven’t confirmed that the Weck jars do in fact leach. Personally I feel more comfortable using the Weck jars with them being just slightly over the limit than introducing any plastic into my food.
Hi, I’m moving to Europe shortly and I know Weck is the #1 most common canning jar and what is available. I understand the glass itself contains lead…however, have you tested the food that was processed in the jars?
Did the actual food get contaminated?
Thank you! Just recently I spent a ton of money on Weck jars! 🙁 🙁 The other containers I have are mainly stainless steel made by Onyx. I see you tested a couple things that were fine. Did you ever test the airtight containers?