Linens & Things White Ceramic Cake Platter: 9,331 ppm Lead. [Context: 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

When tested with an XRF instrument this “Linens & Things” brand cake platter (year unknown – 2014 or earlier) tested positive for the following amount of Lead:

Lead (Pb): 9,331 ppm

All test results reported on this blog are done with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument and are science based and replicable. Testing is done in consumer goods mode, usually for a minimum of 30 or 60 seconds unless otherwise noted. This is the same testing methodology and instrumentation used by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to screen for heavy metals in consumer goods. This is an older test I did so I do not have the details of other metals found in the glaze (I have only been tracking those things with my testing done in more recent years.)

For context: the amount of Lead considered unsafe and illegal in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, glaze or coating and anything 100 ppm or higher in the substrate. As a result – if that standard applied – this item would be considered unsafe for use by children if sold today except for the fact that dishware is not considered (by our regulatory agencies) to be an item intended for use by children and does not have the same regulatory restrictions / limits that children’s items have. As a result EVEN IF this were made today (2019) the amount of Lead in the glaze would be considered completely legal (and likely compliant with current /modern / applicable regulations.)

The “White China is Lead Free!” MYTH!

Did you know it is a common myth that plain white ceramic items are all lead-free? To see more white ceramic pieces I have tested, Click HERE.

Continue reading below the images!

What should I do if I have a cake platter like this?

Return it to Linens & Things and demand a refund (does that store still exist?)
Consider getting a new clear glass or stainless steel one as a replacement. Your local restaurant supply store often has lots of durable, non-toxic, inexpensive alternatives! [And they are so much fun to go browsing in because they have all sorts of gadgets for your kitchen that you probably never even thought of!]
If you choose to keep your tray (and if – in the absence of testing you are unsure if it has Lead), use those paper doilies between your cake and the plate.
Chuck it! Here’s my post with a discussion about the benefits of disposing something that might “just end up in the landfill.”

Please please please – do not donate it to Good Will (or similar resale store) and please consider writing “may have high Lead glaze” and “may not be safe for food use” in permanent marker on the front and back of the item before you dispose of it (just in case, so the next person who comes across it is aware of the concern.!)