Older Corelle plate with decorative iris pattern
Year of manufacture of this exact plate pictured here (the one I tested) is not known, however my readers updated me (August 2019) to tell me they have purchased this exact design (new at the store) in 1989 AND in 2019! I would be very interested in testing a newly purchased (2019) version of this same plate to see if it also has lead. I am going to assume that this particular dish tested and pictured here is likely c. 1989.
XRF Test Results:
Floral Decorative Elements:
- Lead (Pb): 1,895 ppm (on flower)
- Cadmium (Cd): 7 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 2,503 ppm
- Mercury (Hg): ND / Negative
- Arsenic (As): ND / Negative
White Part of Plate:
- Lead (Pb): ND / Negative
- Cadmium (Cd): ND / Negative
- Mercury (Hg): ND / Negative
- Arsenic (As): ND / Negative
To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE.
For context: The amount of Lead that is considered toxic in a recently manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint or coating, and anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate.
Neither modern nor vintage dishware are regulated for total lead content, as detectable with an XRF.
To see the #LeadFree dishes I use in my home, Click HERE.
It is my personal opinion that dishes should have no Lead and no Cadmium (that nothing we use in our kitchen for any food preparation or serving activities should have any toxicants at all, actually.) If consumers knew that these items contained toxicants like Lead and Cadmium, I imagine they would (in most cases) likely not want to buy them in the first place, especially given there are so many inexpensive Lead-free alternatives out there, too.
To read more about my specific concerns for Lead in dishware, Click HERE.
Related: Can I test my own dishes for Lead at home?
For more #SaferChoices for your family, Click HERE.
I could not do what I do without the support of my readers. Their contributions help to cover the costs of the independent consumer goods testing that I do. To make a contribution in support of my independent consumer goods testing and lead poisoning prevention advocacy work, Click HERE. Thank you! [Here’s myGoFundMe LINK too!]
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
https://www.corelle.com/impressions-shadow-iris-16-pc-dinnerware-set/1125056.html
This is actually a newer set. I am not sure how long they have been producing these for. I actually purchased the square version of this set last year hoping that, being a newer set produced by Corelle, that it would have safe levels of metals. I am disappointed but glad that I saw this post. Do you take donations to test? Could I mail you a one of my plates to find out if the ones being sold now also have toxic levels of metal?
Not all the iris plates are new. I grew up eating off of iris plates, so they were at least making this pattern in the 80’s. Some Correll patterns have been in production for many more years than others. I do wonder if they changed their paints since the 80’s, though!
Thanks for your input Nicole. I wonder too if the modern ones are better. I went ahead and retired my iris plates and bought plain white Corelle.
This is so sad. We received a set of these dishes for a wedding gift in 2003, specifically chosen by our friends because they matched our wedding colors. Do the green rims around the plates and bowls also contain lead?
Hi Jessica,
Thank you for commenting. Yes – they do (the green rims) but they are a thin line so it is difficult (with this instrumentation) to come up with an accurate reading. Here’s a consideration about what to do with them (I think they may still be making this pattern): https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
Tamara
Does the white interior of iris pattern coffee cups contain lead?
I bought this set somewhere between 1999 and 2003.
Hi. I appreciate your efforts on this, it makes people aware of lead presence in some dinnerware. Do you happen to have the test result for corelle shadow iris square design? I bought this sometime year 2019.
I received the Iris pattern dishes as a wedding gift in 1984. I’ve been so thrilled the set is still intact. I can’t believe I’ve been poisoning not only my kids but grand kids. I guess it’s time for some new dishes.
I have the square version of the iris pattern. Are they also unsafe?