Pure pewter 99.9% with the highest degree of purity (also for products that come into contact with food) High-grade micro-cleaned in its purest condition with very good flow properties.
This pure pewter meets the highest requirements and was developed in cooperation with a professional foundry for the casting of miniatures and models.
Tin (Sn) The metal tin has been known since 3500 BC at the latest. As a component in alloys, tin is used in many ways, alloyed with copper to form bronze or other materials. Nordic gold, the alloy of the gold-coloured euro coins, contains among other things 1% tin.
In Latin, tin is called "stannum", hence the chemical symbol "Sn". Tin has a very low melting point of about 230 degrees Celsius.
Is pure tin permitted and safe in contact with food?
Yes,
Pure tin is permitted and largely harmless in contact with food, provided certain conditions are met. The metal itself is non-toxic, is hardly absorbed by the human body and has no known biological function.
However, there are important differentiations with regard to safety and use:
Legal and health classification
- Food safety: According to EU Framework Regulation 1935/2004, food contact materials must not endanger human health or impair the flavour of food.
- Authorisation: Tin in the form of stannous chloride (E 512) is even authorised as a food additive in the EU. According to the EFSA, a safe limit of 200 mg tin per kilogramme of food applies to food contact materials.
Risk factors in everyday life
Although tin is harmless in itself, problems can occur in practice:
- Acid sensitivity: Acidic foods (such as fruit juices, pickles or tomatoes) can dissolve tin from the material. This often leads to an unpleasant metallic taste.
- Oxidation by atmospheric oxygen: As soon as a tin can is opened, atmospheric oxygen accelerates the dissolving of tin into the food. Leftovers should therefore be immediately transferred to glass or plastic containers.
- Alloy components: "Antique" pewter crockery often contains considerable amounts of lead, which is highly toxic. Modern "food pewter" (e.g. Sn95Sb3Cu2), on the other hand, is lead-free and specially designed for crockery.
Tips for use
- Only use pewter tableware that is explicitly labelled as lead-free or food-safe.
- Avoid permanently storing highly acidic food or drinks (e.g. white wine or citrus fruits) in pewter containers.
- Check the age of heirlooms; pewter items from before 1970 may still contain lead and should rather be used as decoration.
Group
Metal
State
new
Not a toy! Not suitable for children under the age of 14!
