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Is it safe to drink from a lead crystal decanter?

I filled a beautiful crystal decanter with scotch whisky, but didn't drink it all. It's been in there awhile, so could the lead have leached into the whisky? Or is the glass processed in such a way that this doesn't happen? Is there even lead in lead crystal?

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4 Years 1 Answer 2.1k views

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  1. K Grace-Lily 3000 Community Answer

    I did a little research for you, and there are varying points of view for drinking from crystal glass and decanters. Some suggestions are that an occasional drink from crystal is fine, that lead leaching into a drink freshly poured is unlikely. But the warning is that if the alcohol is stored in a lead crystal container, then it is not considered safe. The single most common recommendation is that it's not safe to store liquids for any length of time in Lead Crystal Decanters. Lead crystal contains about 24% lead, but if it is stored for any time, then it would be advisable to dispose of the liquid.

     

    A common opinion is that stored longer than overnight in a lead crystal decanter makes it unsafe, so I'd recommend tossing the whiskey.  You might want to verify that it is indeed a lead crystal before tossing, just to be sure. But if uncertain, then toss the liquor. 

     

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    https://www.gurasu.co.uk/en/blogs/journal/test-title/ - This blog post focusses on explaining the real issue around the health and safety of lead crystal glassware. Despite the rumors about crystal causing a health risk to consumers, there has been no scientific evidence given to support this thesis. The lead content in our everyday diet and the environment is higher than when we consume from crystal decanters. It is safe to consume from crystal glassware provided you don't store your spirits for months in them.
     
    https://www.oregonwinepress.com/klooster-crystal. - Whereas wine can be safely enjoyed and appreciated from a leaded crystal glass or other related drinking vessel, it should not be stored in such a vessel. Tests have proven that the lead in leaded glass, which can comprise up to one-third the total content, will leach into an acidic liquid fairly rapidly.
     
    https://www.webstaurantstore.com/article/260/is-lead-crystal-safe.html - The greatest risk of drinking from lead crystal is the consumption of any lead that may leach into your beverage. Similar to the debate on copper cups, many people argue that the amount of lead that makes its way into a drink depends on the amount of time that the liquid has spent inside the vessel. While it’s true that the lead content in a liquid can increase over time, studies have shown that no amount of lead is safe for consumption.
     
    https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/the-dangers-of-lead-crystal-glassware/ - Does this mean you should stop using lead-crystal decanters and stemware completely? Not necessarily, unless you want to be extremely cautious. The Nibble notes that EPA standards for lead content will not be exceeded if you serve your wine (or water) in your crystal stemware during the course of a meal. As for decanters, it’s safest to use them quickly to decant the wine off its sediment, then pour it back into the original bottle for serving.
     
     https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/20/garden/fda-issues-warnings-on-using-lead-crystal.html - *Do not use lead crystal every day. Occasional use is all right, but if you have a daily glass of wine, don't drink it from a crystal goblet. * Don't store foods or beverages for long periods in crystal. This is particularly true for acidic juices, vinegar and alcoholic beverages. Mr. Burke defines a week or two as long. Others say overnight is the maximum.
     
     
    UTC 2021-08-30 02:02 PM 0 Comments

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