Introduction (for those new to this website):
Tamara Rubin is a federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children, her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005. Since 2009 Tamara has been using XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals), including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic. All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times, to confirm the test results for each component tested. Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023.
When tested with a high-precision XRF instrument, this Le Creuset tea kettle had the following readings:
- Red enameled outside: 11,900 ppm Cadmium (non-detect for Lead).
- Inside the lid of the teapot: 103 ppm Lead (non-detect for Cadmium).
The exact year of manufacture of this kettle is unknown, however, it was tested in 2014 and was fairly new at that time. Test results using XRF technology are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds each unless otherwise noted (and repeated multiple times, to confirm the results reported).
For some additional reading related to this post:
- To better understand the concern of Cadmium in our dishes and consumer goods, click here.
- Click here to see more enamelware items I have tested.
- For safer choices in dishware options, click here.
- To see more tea kettles I have tested, click here.
- To see more Le Creuset items I have tested, click here.
- Here’s a link to my post with safer choices for tea kettles for your family — link.
As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Please let me know if you have any questions at all, I will do my best to answer them personally.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Is positive lead testing typical of enamel ware?
Yes. Click through to the “enamelware” category link on my site: https://tamararubin.com/category/enamelware/
What are the readings on the inside of the kettle where the water touches? This is misleading as you do not need the lid to boil water and your water doesnt really touch the paint on the outside. I understand too that you can still absorb chemicals through skin contact but for the most part people use the handle while filling the pot. Just needing some extra clarification, thanks
Hi There – I updated the post with a little video I made last night to answer your question Acacia. Please watch the video. The good news is that Le Creuset has been replacing their Cadmium containing products for customers who have concerns!
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
I have this same tea kettle but in the blue color. I also have the large Dutch oven that is enameled cast iron, also in blue (I believe Marseille is the color name). They were both purchased in 2013. I noticed most of your posts for Le Creuset are about the red, orange and yellow colors, but you also listed one blue item that had concerning readings. Have you tested the tea kettles or Dutch oven in blue? I also noticed you said Le Creuset was replacing items when customers had concerns. Are the newer items much better where this would be worth it? I did notice a stainless steel unpainted kettle. Not sure if they’d switch that out for my blue one, but if so, might that be a safer option?
Thanks!
Farleigh
Is there a tea set you can recommend for children? Have you ever tested Ross Simons tea sets that are advertised as lead free?