Does milk glass have lead in it?
The milk glass interiors used in many vintage Pyrex and Anchor Hocking pieces commonly contain lead. The lead in milk glass is probably inert and trapped in the glass, however, no lab tests are currently being done on these vintage pieces so we have no way to know for sure if these pieces are safe for food contact.
Milk glass is safe to use, but pieces made in the early 1800s may contain small amounts of lead in the paint. Milk glass containers are commonly used as fruit bowls and can be cleaned with soap and water. Milk glass is beautiful and is often seen in antique stores or shops with crafted glass.
(To identify, give the piece a good rap with your knuckle. And, if it contains lead, it will ring like a bell.) As manufacturing techniques have evolved, the look of the glass has changed, as well.
Vintage Fenton White Milk Glass Hobnail Fan Vase: 136 ppm Lead (not particularly alarming for a vase).
Milk glass is most often made with tin dioxide as the “opacifier” along with arsenic and other ingredients, but there have been many other elements or compounds used as opacifiers, such as titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, fluorspar, cryolite, antimony, sulfates, chorides, etc.
Lead crystal is generally easily identified; all you need is a fingernail or metal utensil. Tap your nail or a fork against the edge of the glass. If it clinks, it is glass, but if it rings, you have crystal. Generally, the longer the ring, the higher the lead content.
“Before the 1990s, virtually all glass and ceramic ware made anywhere in the world contained Lead as a primary ingredient in the decorating fluxes and glazes. All our products have been Lead-free since the mid-2000s.
Sharing is caring! I love vintage Pyrex, you will see it on my page and social media a lot. However, there is something to be aware of when it comes to most vintage dishes and cookware, including Pyrex. It can contain lead.
Only a handful of companies still manufacture milk glass, including the well-known Fenton Art Glass Company of Williamstown, West Virginia.
- Milk glass is primarily white. However, milk glass comes in other colors too. ...
- Vintage milk glass is opaque. ...
- Companies produced milk glass from the late 1800s through the 1980s. ...
- White dinnerware and dishes are usually not considered milk glass.
Does Anchor Hocking glass contain lead?
For over 100 years, Anchor Hocking has prided itself on manufacturing quality glassware. The Anchor Hocking products that we sell here at MightyNest are all BPA free, PVC free and Lead free. And we love that their products are manufactured here in the United States!
To identify whether a piece of glass is Fenton glass, look for a sticker near the bottom of the item. The stickers are usually oval and may have scalloped or smooth edges. You may also see an oval with the word Fenton stamped into the glass if the piece was made after 1970.
First of all, yes, Fenton Milk Glass contains lead in it; 136 ppm Lead. Second, there is not enough of it in the glass to be anxious over the lead.
OPAQUE and SEMI-OPAQUE: Various types of opaque and semi-opaque glass with uranium in them were made. Examples are JADEITE and some custard glass and milk glass. Again, these are not 'vaseline' glass to some collectors, since they are not translucent.
Identifying a piece of glass as white used to be the best way to categorize milk glass. However, not all white glass is milk glass. The term now applies to colors with an underlying milky or opalescent presence.
American milk glass is a popular collector's item that primarily dates back to the turn of the 19th century up through the 1950s. It is also called clambroth glass, resembling the color of the milky, translucent cooking liquid.
If you child touches the dish as it's being passed around the table and gets lead on their hands and then puts their hands in their mouth, they've just ingested lead. As much as I really wish I could tell you that your vintage Pyrex is still safe to use around your family, I would strongly advise against it.
All our products have been Lead free since the mid-2000's. Lead content has never been regulated until recently. We recommend using the items you have as decorative pieces. We hope this information is helpful.
As mentioned earlier, dishes manufactured before 1970 had no regulations on the glaze used. However, strict regulations implemented in the mid-2000s ensure the Corelle dinnerware made since is completely lead-safe. Corelle makes its products and glazes using clay-based materials and glazed used throughout the industry.
If you're attached to your antique drinking glasses, we recommend testing them for lead before using them and, if they test positive, only keep them as decoration. Using them as drinkware could put your and your family's health at risk.
Is vintage Pyrex milk glass safe?
If you child touches the dish as it's being passed around the table and gets lead on their hands and then puts their hands in their mouth, they've just ingested lead. As much as I really wish I could tell you that your vintage Pyrex is still safe to use around your family, I would strongly advise against it.
Many manufacturers no longer make leaded crystal, but if you have any vintage crystal, it's very likely that it has unsafe levels of lead.
It's affordable, good quality, and very safe. Pyrex did briefly make a line called Vintage Charm that was inspired by the vintage pieces but would fit under new FDA standards. It's hard to find now but if you can this is a great option. I have a few pieces and I use those most of the time.
All our products have been Lead free since the mid-2000's. Lead content has never been regulated until recently. We recommend using the items you have as decorative pieces. We hope this information is helpful.
As mentioned earlier, dishes manufactured before 1970 had no regulations on the glaze used. However, strict regulations implemented in the mid-2000s ensure the Corelle dinnerware made since is completely lead-safe. Corelle makes its products and glazes using clay-based materials and glazed used throughout the industry.
Vintage (1972-1988) Corning Spice-o-Life Casserole: 26,500 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe*] & 236 ppm Cd [75 is unsafe.]
