This vintage Corningware Spice-o-Life casserole dish tested positive for lead when tested with an XRF instrument at 21,800 ppm Lead in the decoration on the outside of the dish.
On the plain white inside it was negative for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic. Tested in 2014.
Here’s a link to a post on a blog that helps to date many of the Corningware patterns.
In 2018 the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is 90 ppm lead (or higher) in the coating or 100 ppm (or higher) in the substrate. Dishware is not considered to be an “item intended for children” (even newly made casseroles that are manufactured in the United States) and, as such, is not regulated for total lead content as tested/detectable with an XRF instrument.
–
Would you like to see more test results like this? Please consider making a small monthly gift in support of my advocacy here! https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe/
–
Thank you for reading, following and sharing! Please ask questions if you have them!
Tamara Rubin
Mother of Lead Poisoned Children
Trained and Certified in using an XRF instrument.
After purchasing some jewelry findings from China on eBay (which I would now like to test for lead), then doing some research about “Tibetan Silver” that took me to discussions about lead in China jewelry, I ended up on your YouTube video checking out the lead in products at Target and so of course ended up at your website. Wow…I was in shock on your Pyrex and Corning Ware findings as I do have some from years ago (pattern in yellow which I know now is one of the colors highly lead prone) and also belong to a Facebook group that collects Pyrex ware that is in high demand for collecting recently! Some of these women have tons, and I mean, TONS, of vintage Pyrex! Can you suggest a brand of in home testing kits for lead? I had also researched several brands with one esp. seeming to stand out among the rest. Thanks for all your super helpful, scary info.!!!
Pyrex is glass, and does not contain lead. That’s why they use it for chemicals, and lab equipment.
James – hello.
The vintage Pyrex that is highly decorated has high Lead paint in the exterior decorative elements and often also has lead (at lower levels) in the white milk glass base that makes up most of the vintage Pyrex pieces.
Tamara
In your article at the top of this page, you stated that the decorations tested high for lead but negative on interior. But then in this thread, you are saying the white milk glass base also has lead. That is confusing to me, can you clarify?
Hi Shawn!
Thank you for commenting, sorry I did not respond sooner. Here is the link to a post with how I test and the test kits I recommend: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
Tamara
Are the dishes safe to use if they’re free from stuff on the inside? If not are there recommended alternatives?
I have a spice of life 3 quart casserole dish. I found a number 12 inscribe on the front of the dish..can you tell me what the number stands for?
I have plain white but very old corralled plates. Also 70’s or later White with a thin green circle around the outside with flowers in the middle and white with blue flowers around the edge and white with soft blue, black and red farm scenes around the outside! Are any of these lead-free?
You’rrrre Safe! YAY! “On the plain white inside it was negative for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic. Tested in 2014.” Gifting our ENTIRE set to YOUNG & HEALTHY newlyweds – Thanks!
Actually I don’t consider these safe. I would never use these in my home.
Please read this post:
https://tamararubin.com/2020/07/if-the-lead-is-only-on-the-outside-of-my-dish-measuring-cup-mixing-bowl-etc-why-does-it-matter-that-it-has-lead/
Tamara
How do you safely dispose of the spice of life and other corning ware casserole dishes?
Hi Doreen – here are my thoughts on disposal:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
Tamara
Hello,
My Mom has a decorated corn ware set with a green color in the outside pattern, I believe it is a garden plant theme. Possibly purchased after 1987. Is there a way to know if it has lead?
I tossed all my old pieces, thinking that transfer of lead and cadmium to my hands while touching the decorative exterior while preparing food, to oven mitts, and even to other dishes in the sink or dishwasher was probable. Have you done any tests on transfer?
There is some transfer that we have demonstrated (with dust wipes, informally) – at unsafe levels.
T