Heavy Metal Leachable Testing for Glass Bottles & Jars: What Food Producers Need to Know
Glass is often seen as the gold standard in food packaging: inert, recyclable, elegant, robust. But even glass can contain trace heavy metals—lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic—especially when coloured or finished. Under certain conditions (acidic or salty foods, long storage, heat), these metals can leach out. That’s why heavy metal leachable testing is vital for anyone in the food, supplement, beverage or edible oils industry.
What is leachable heavy metal testing?
Leachable heavy metal testing is a laboratory process that simulates real-world contact between your food product (or a food model) and the packaging over time, temperature, acidity, etc., then measures how much of certain metals migrate into the food simulant. The goal is to ensure that migration levels are below legal limits so that there’s no threat to human health.
Legal & regulatory requirements
Here are key legal obligations in the UK (and for EU exports), and what producers must ensure:
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Framework regulation for materials in contact with food
Under retained UK law, the rules from EU Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 are still relevant: any food contact material must not transfer constituents at harmful levels into food, nor change food in an unacceptable way (taste, odour, appearance). -
Contaminants in Food Regulations
UK regulations based on EU Regulation 1881/2006 set maximum levels for contaminants including lead, cadmium, arsenic in various foods. Producers must ensure that the entire supply chain—including packaging—does not contribute to exceeding those limits. Premier Analytical Services+2Food Standards Agency+2 -
Packaging Waste / Environmental & Hazardous Substance Requirements
The UK Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations require that packaging materials do not contain heavy metals above certain thresholds—100 ppm (parts per million) for lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium. GOV.UK -
Declaration of Compliance (DoC)
Producers must hold documentation showing that raw materials, packaging and finished product comply with food safety, chemical and environmental regulations. If you change glass colour, finish, closure, or supplier, you must obtain updated testing and certifications. -
Traceability & Labelling
Producers need to trace packaging back to suppliers, maintain certifications, and ensure that food safety records are in place should inspections or audits happen.
Why heavy metal leachable testing is vital for food-related businesses
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Protecting consumer health — even low-level exposure to certain heavy metals (especially over time) poses risks.
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Avoiding legal liability, recall, financial loss, or damage to brand reputation.
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Meeting retailer or export market demands (many markets require proof of compliance).
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Differentiating your product: “Food-safe packaging”, “tested heavy metals”, “full certification” are powerful selling points.
How Quality Bottles supports your compliance
At Quality Bottles, we understand the burden of compliance. To make your life easier:
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We maintain test certificates for all colours of our bottles, jars, and pipettes—whatever colour or finish you choose, the documentation is already in place.
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Certificates are available on request for customers who require proof for audits, export, or regulatory bodies.
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Our product range is carefully selected to offer safe materials (food contact-grade glass, closures that meet applicable standards).
Product recommendations & what to ask for
Here are a few product examples from our range that combine aesthetics, function—and tested safety:
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10ml Clear Glass Dropper Bottle — a versatile choice for oils, sauces, tinctures; clear glass lets you show your product, while ensuring compliance. Quality Bottles
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30ml Matte Black Glass Dropper Bottle & Roller Ball and Lid — excellent for products sensitive to light; the dark finish provides protection, and our test certificates cover that finish. Quality Bottles
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Frosted Amber Glass Bottles — great for high-end look + UV protection. We hold leachable testing for the frosted and amber variants too. Quality Bottles
When ordering, always ask: “Could you provide the heavy metal leaching test certificate for this specific glass colour and closure type?” “Has this glass been tested with acidic food simulants?” And ensure the certificate covers bottles, jars & glass pipettes you plan to use.
Conclusion
Heavy metal leachable testing isn’t optional—it’s an essential part of safe, compliant food packaging. With Quality Bottles you gain peace of mind: full test certificates for all colours, jars, bottles, and pipettes, available on request. When you choose packaging that is both beautiful and thoroughly tested, your brand protects its customers and its reputation.
Ready to upgrade your packaging line with fully compliant glass bottles or jars? Contact us today, request certificates, review product finishes, and ensure your food products reach market safely, legally, and with confidence.
We hope the above article helps you to find your ideal jar and bottles for your food and cosmetic products. Always ask for a certificate issued to the company you are trading with (not an upstream supplier) as your contract is with who you buy from, it is their responsibility to issue a certificate for the products you get. Don't be fobbed off with a certificate from someone else for different products not the actual items you are buying!
