KitchenAid Mixer Blade & Dough Hook: Between 600 – 800 ppm lead!!!
This is MY KitchenAid – from my wedding to my ex-husband in 1994. I had tested the blue part before and it was negative and before testing the blades from my friends’ mixers it NEVER occurred to ME to test my own blades (doh!) – they were positive – like the others I have tested.
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The level of lead that is considered unsafe for an item intended for children is 90 ppm lead. Items like this are not regulated for total lead content (as detectable with an XRF instrument.)
I am NOT saying that this item will poison you, but I AM asking… why is there any lead at all in our kitchen items? Especially newly or recently manufactured kitchen items? Lead is one of the most potent neurotoxins known to man, it causes permanent brain damage in young children and does not belong in our kitchens.
Amelia says
Hi Tamara, I am wondering if you can weigh in on this. We have a Kenwood chef sense mixer that cost a lot and which I am very happy with! However, I noticed recently that the spinning part where the attachment goes into on top seems to have a brass coloured washer around it (the actual part appears to be steel I think), so I assume the washer is brass. I don’t think there is direct contact with food or the attachment but what do you think about lead dust that the brass washer may create contaminating food or am I overthinking things as lots of people have mixers, lots of mixers have brass washers and people seem fine? I will love to be able to be able to continue using the mixer as we bake a lot… but am just a little iffy now about the brass washer.
Thank you!
hope says
What about kitchen aid’s stainless steel versions of these blades? You can buy them separately.
Tamara says
Those are generally fine, although sometimes the top nut (attachment point) is not stainless and tests positive for lead.
haydi says
what is it thats testing positive for lead the powder coating or the aluminum?
Tamara says
Both the white powder coated components test positive and the bare metal style components. I have not removed the surface coating from any of the paddles to test it separately, but both styles have been positive for high levels of lead.
Cortney says
Hi,
I had two questions for you. Do you still use your Kitchen Aid Mixer, and do you know if there is a dough hook that doesn’t test positive for lead?
Tamara says
I use it very rarely and mostly use it with the whisk.
Pedro Pena says
I have a silver kitchen aid mixer and I really love it but now I’m leary about using it. What other attachments can I use that are lead free? I recently bought some attachments for my Kitchen Aid mixer that has P65 Lead and now I’m freaking out. Can you please shed some light on this?
Tamara says
I heard that as of this year the company is now selling a stainless steel attachment set, but I have not tested it yet.
Carrie says
Their stainless steel attachment set has a prop 65 warning on the website. Any idea why?
Tamara says
Likely Chromium and Nickel – which are primary components of Stainless Steel.
More info on this link:
https://tamararubin.com/2018/07/asktamara-what-is-stainless-steel/
Tamara
Kimberly says
I was always wanting a stand mixer, but now I’m not so sure. Is it just the attachments that have tested positive for lead? Or are parts of the stand mixer itself as well. Thanks!!
Amanda says
I have a commercial kitchen aid mixer that has stainless attachments. Does stainless steel ever contain lead? Thanks for answering my question!
Amanda
Carrie says
This is so frustrating! I have this paddle and dough hook; I contacted kitchenaid years ago and they assured me no lead. Go figure. Sigh.
Have you tested the kitchenaid stainless steel attachments yet? I just found a 3 pack (whisk, dough hook, paddle) at Wiilams Sonoma for $80, but I don’t want to purchase unless they are lead safe. For now I will be mixing by hand…..I feel sickened knowing the attachments have lead. Thank you for all the work you do!
Celeste says
Have you tested the stainless steel bowl that came with your mixer? I have the same blue Kitchen Aid mixer and am wondering if the bowl is safe. Thank you!
Tamara says
Hello Celeste,
Yes – it is 304 (food grade) stainless steel – no Lead, no Mercury, No Cadmium, no Arsenic and no Antimony!
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
Amanda says
I, too, would love to know if/when you test the new stainless steel attachments.
Tamara says
Hi Amanda,
No one has sent them to me for testing yet. Here’s the post about how to participate in the testing I do (that I report here on the blog): https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/
Thanks for commenting!
Tamara
Amanda Davidhizar says
Have you ever contacted kitchen aide about this? I just did and they said they were trying to get these claims that there is lead in the attachments removed but again assured me there is no lead because they would get in “big trouble” over it. I asked for proof or reports of texting and they can’t provide that. I also said a third party tested the attachments and they came up positive for lead. So frustrating!
Tristan says
Is the chopper blade also unsafe?
Karen Sharpe says
I just purchased the metal meat grinder attachment ..loving it but is it also containing unsafe levels of lead.?
Has can they legally be still selling these products?
Camille B says
Is there a mixer that you recommend?
Anita says
This is very upsetting I do a lot of baking for family and friends, so i use my mixer a lot, I also have Lupus and I’m using these paddles that have lead in it and have been using them for years. That is very concerning. Are they going to replace any of these paddles for stainless steel.