# Is Pewter Safe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2012, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368 "2012-08-23T11:01:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/1 "2012-08-23T11:01:37Z")
Well, I am on the road again, and I will not be able to check this thread for another thirty hours. In any case, last night we went to dinner to City Tavern in Philadelphia. (What? You’ve never been?) All very colonial including costumes and ‘recreated’ menu items. We had an excellent cooler made with cider and Spanish wine. The drinks were served in pewter mugs. They were, I supposed chilled beforehand. Still I was impressed (in a drunken way) how cold the mugs kept our drinks. \*\*But is pewter safe? \*\*I seem to remember it is an alloy of silver and the dreaded lead. Perhaps modern pewter is some sort of modern adaptation? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/2 "2012-08-23T11:12:39Z")
> **[Is Pewter Safe? - Sciencing](https://www.sciencing.com/is-pewter-safe-12250420/)** > > Is Pewter Safe? > [@](#): > > Composition > > ``` > Pewter is a metal alloy consisting of at least 90 percent tin and a mix of other metals like copper, bismuth and antimony as hardeners. > > ``` > > Lead Content > > ``` > Lead was once a major component of pewter but it has been banned as an ingredient for many years. When lead was used to produce pewter, it may have caused many illnesses as it leached into food. > > ``` So there is likely no silver or lead in your pewter. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/3 "2012-08-23T11:19:43Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/4 "2012-08-23T12:17:16Z")
Many places selli ng pewter items (usually Colonial recreations) make a point of saying that their pewter is lead-free, because a lot of people know that pewter contained lead. In fact, that composition listing by **Telemark** might be accurate for current pewter, but I was taugfht that in Colonial days pewter was an alloy of tin and lead. No one mentioned other metals. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/5 "2012-08-23T14:00:38Z")
> **[Standard Specification for Modern Pewter Alloys](https://www.astm.org/b0560-20.html)** > > AbstractThis specification covers three modern alloy types, made from tin, antimony, and copper, used in the fabrication of pewter articles by casting, spinning, drawing, or forming. These alloy types include: castings (Type I), sheets (Type 2), and... All modern pewter is free of lead. But I’m sure there are many pewter items still out there with some lead content. I suspect historical groups serving food in traditional garb are aware of the issue and use modern items that are lead-free. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/6 "2012-08-23T14:03:13Z")
Even with a trace of lead, unless the food is highly acidic, you are unlikely to be harmed. But lead crystal decanters? Keeping wine in them is a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/7 "2012-08-23T23:33:16Z")
There are also many reproduction “pewter” mugs used for historical reenacting that are simply heavy cast aluminum and not pewter at all. These look good and are cheaper than lead free pewter. I’d bet most colonial style restaurants and taverns use the aluminum ones. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/8 "2012-08-24T20:51:03Z")
I have returned safely to Saudi Arabia. Thank you all for your comments. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/9 "2012-08-25T01:56:54Z")
Someone forgot to tell us what “modern” pewter consists of. Personally, I’d like a pure tin cup. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pewter-safe/632368/10 "2012-08-25T03:24:12Z")
Most things that you think are pewter are probably not pewter. Even if they say they are. For 20 years, I thought my pewter tankard was pewter until I became curious enough to google the letters EPNS on the bottom. Electro-plated Nickel Silver.