When this newer modern white Fiestaware tea cup (purchased c. October 2014) was tested with an XRF instrument it had the following reading:
- Lead (Pb): 40 +/- 14 ppm
The amount of lead considered unsafe in items intended for children is 90 ppm lead or higher in the paint or coating or 100 ppm or higher in the substrate. As a result, this cup WOULD be considered lead-safe by all available standards, even though technically there is not a a standard for total lead content in modern dishware when using an XRF for testing.
I would consider this cup almost Lead-free / but not quite! The company probably did leach testing and it did not leach any Lead. At this level the Lead is a trace contaminant and not an additive (or intentional ingredient) to the glaze or clay. I would feel comfortable drinking out of this cup if I visited your home, but would not choose to own Fiestaware personally.
Here’s a link to this exact cup on Amazon* if you are interested in purchasing it: https://amzn.to/2CKjX8Q
For more lead-safe / lead-free dishware options, click here.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
*Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I may receive a small percentage of what you spend at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my advocacy work in this way.
Hello! Just discovered you yesterday listening to Boom Clap podcast (my favorite!). I am from WV and my mother-in-law ran the decorating shop at Homer Laughlin for 42 years. My father worked there as an electrician after retiring from the steel mills. My brother-in-law was the modeler there for years, and nearly all my mother’s siblings worked there as a career. Needless to say, my house is full of Fiestaware. We knew of the lead issues with the vintage pieces, but I had no idea of the issues with the newer dishes!!!! I’m so confused now, and am looking for clarification. I was married in 1981, and every holiday, birthday or anniversary my mother in law bought us Fiestaware. My everyday dishes for years were the country blue that is now discontinued. And since the 90’s we have eaten daily on the red fiesta ware. If I am reading your charts correctly, the red is toxic because of cadmium mostly, and the blue was discontinued because of lead. I also have the white set with Christmas decal – but it looks like it is unsafe as well. Is this correct? Thank you so very much for your help!!
Jackie