The Safety of Pewter (old and new)

March 16, 2005, by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from M. C.

I have an antique pewter salt shaker I bought it at an antiques store in Boston in the 1950s, and gave it to my parents then--it is old, old. I use it at the stove when I add salt rarely to food I'm cooking. Is it safe? It seems to me it has a kind of sharp smell, and I don't know if that is lead, or tin, or the salt. Any ideas? 

Debra's Answer

Old pewter is made from tin and lead, so I would assume yours contains lead. Since there is no safe level for lead exposure, I wouldn't use it. Even though you use it only occasionally, in a way that is worse, for the salt has contact with the pewter for a longer period, giving it more opportunity to absorb any lead that may be leaching.

Modern pewter is lead-free and safe to use. It is made from 95% tin, plus copper and antimony. According to one manufacturer, "The products are guaranteed lead-free and quite safe to be used for all kinds of food and drink."

I noticed that most pewter websites give no information on the pewter or its contents. Warnings are still given to watch out for pewter items which may contain lead. So if you are considering a purchase of pewter, ask if it contains lead.