Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Plate, Green: 430,100 ppm Lead (yes 43% Lead glaze!). Not safe for food use!

The green vintage Bauer, Los Angeles plate pictured here tested positive for Lead at the following level:

• 430,100 parts per million Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)
• This translates to glaze that is 43% Lead!
• For context: the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe (and illegal) in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the glaze, paint or coating.
• Dishes are exempt from the current regulations (they are not considered to be “items intended for use by children” so even new dishes can have unsafe levels of Lead in the glaze.

Note: this plate also tested negative with Lead Check swab (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – not pottery)- Why take the risk? The only way to know if lead is leaching is to send it to a lab. Better to have lead-free dishes and not worry!

Here’s a post that further discuss the concern for Lead in pottery.

Here’s a post about testing your dishes with a LeadCheck swab.

To see more Bauer pieces I have tested, click here.

For more information about LEAD FREE dish choices, click HERE.

For more safer choices in kitchenware options, click here.

Please note:  I am not saying “this particular plate will poison the people using it”!  I am saying that there is no defensible reason for one of the most potent neurotoxins known to man to be in our cookware (especially at levels this high!) Period.

Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama