Do decorative ceramic mugs and pottery leach lead into drinks?
Some do. Decorative glazed pottery and mugs with bright colors can leach significant amounts of lead.
What's actually in it
The glaze on pottery and ceramics often contains lead compounds. They give colors their brightness and give the surface its glossy finish. When the glaze is properly fired at high temperatures, the lead is mostly locked in. But if the firing temperature was too low, or the glaze cracks over time, lead can leach out.
Acidic drinks like coffee, tea, juice, and wine pull more lead out of glazed surfaces. Hot liquids pull even more. Decorative pieces not intended for food use are the worst offenders.
What the research says
A 2026 study in J Public Health Manag Pract measured lead leaching from glazed pottery sold in Mexican markets when acidic food was cooked in them. Researchers found lead leaching at levels well above safe limits. Cooking acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus dramatically increased how much lead got into the food.
Imported pottery and handmade ceramics from regions with less regulated manufacturing are the biggest risk. Old glazed mugs and antique dishes are also suspect.
The safe choice for hot drinks and food storage is uncoated stainless steel or borosilicate glass. Stainless steel cookware doesn't use any lead-containing glazes.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Leaching of Soluble Lead by Cooking Acidic Food in Glazed Pottery | J Public Health Manag Pract | 2026 |
What to use instead
Browse our curated non-toxic alternatives. Every product is third-party certified.
Shop Non-Toxic Kitchen