Is it safe to drink from a mug with a chipped glaze?
Avoid it for drinking. A chipped rim is harder to clean and can expose damaged ceramic or decoration to hot drinks.
What's actually in it
Glaze is the smooth surface between your drink and the ceramic underneath. When a mug chips, the rough edge is harder to clean and creates more contact between hot drinks and damaged material.
This matters most at the rim, because the chipped area touches your mouth and the drink.
What the research says
A 2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials study measured cadmium and lead migration from ceramic mugs using 4% acetic acid over 24 hours. The study found greater migration from exterior lip areas, especially overglazed decorative pigment areas, than from interiors.
That study supports caution with damaged, decorated, imported, vintage, or handmade ceramic drinkware.
Practical takeaway: retire chipped mugs from drinking use. Use intact glass, stoneware, or clearly lead-free ceramic cups for hot coffee and tea.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Migration kinetics of cadmium and lead from ceramic mugs. | J Hazard Mater | 2025 |
What to use instead
Replace chipped mugs with intact glass coffee cups or lead-free stoneware for daily hot drinks.
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