Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Glass Baby Bottle: Lead-free, but trace Cadmium found in the glass of the bottle & nipple
For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005).
- Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC — a unique community collaborative woman-owned small business for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety.
- Since July of 2022, the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC has been responsible for 5 product recalls (FDA and CPSC).
- All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable.
- Please check out our press page to see some of the amazing coverage of our work so far this year!
Originally published: October 14, 2017
Testing is based on new product samples tested in 2017
When tested with an XRF instrument, the Dr. Brown brand glass baby bottle pictured here (along with the related components also pictured) all tested negative (non-detect/ND) for Lead (within the limits of detection of XRF technology testing in consumer goods mode). However, two components (the glass bottle and the silicone nipple) did test positive for trace levels of Cadmium (considered safe by all current standards). When a toxicant is positive at a “trace” level, that means it is a very low level (generally considered insignificant) and considered a contaminant of the product components — meaning it’s not generally likely to be an added ingredient or feature of a product given the levels found.
XRF test results for the product pictured:
- Cadmium Readings:
- Glass bottle: 9+/-5 ppm
- Nipple: 14 +/- 5 ppm.
Important points to note:
- All other components were Non-Detect for Cadmium.
- All components were Non-Detect for Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), and Arsenic (As).
- For more information about the concern for Cadmium in consumer goods, please read my “Cadmium Concerns” article here.
- While I would not necessarily choose to use this product for a member of my family, here’s my Amazon affiliate link*: http://amzn.to/2vREYaX.
I prefer these three brands of glass baby bottles (from a toxicant perspective, these three brands have tested the cleanest):
- Brand one (click to see on Amazon)
- Brand two (click to see on Amazon)
- Brand three (click to see on Amazon)
Interested in supporting Lead Safe Mama’s independent consumer goods testing and childhood Lead poisoning prevention advocacy work? Let me count the ways you can help… (check them out here!)
As always, please let me know if you have any questions!
Sincerely,
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
*Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of these links, Lead Safe Mama, LLC may receive a small percentage of what you spend at no extra cost to you.
Never Miss an Important Article Again!
Join our Email List
You forgot to mention lifefactory and advent natural glass bottles 🙂
Hi Tamara, have you ever tested the first generation of Dr. Browns glass bottles? They are taller and thinner and don’t have any paint but I don’t know if I should worry about the glass of the bottle? I’d be glad to send you one. Thanks!
Erin
I would like to know this as well! Has there by chance been any further testing with the Dr. Brown’s original glass bottles?
Hi –
No I have not tested these since this post. Here’s how to participate in the testing I do:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/
Thanks for commenting.
Tamara
Hello Tamara. Thank you for this Research. I ordered one set of bottles recommended by you on this post but it has the skinny nipple abs the baby didn’t like it so I’m thinking on getting the scent but when I go to the link you shared there’s an old version and a new version, I’m wondering if the new version would be the same. I appreciate you answering. Thank you
I was wondering the exact same thing. Are both the old version and new version safe, Tamara? thanks for everything
Could you test the Evenflo Balance + glass bottles? They are a very popular brand
Hi there,
Would this study still he the same for the 2023 bottles?
I bought the dr brown glass anti colic newborn bottle for my baby. I have just seen this now and panicking a little. I am very alternative and try to find the cleanest things available.
Are the plastic dr browns bottles okay?
Can you confirm that recent Dr. Brown glass narrow neck bottles still confirm cadmium?