Spode “Delamere Blue” China: 47,500 ppm Lead (90 ppm + is unsafe in items intended for use by children.)
This Spode brand yellow “Delamere Blue” pattern china (Made in England) was positive for lead when tested with an XRF instrument. It came in at 47,500 ppm lead (+/- 1,500 ppm).
For context:
- The amount of lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for children is 90 ppm in the coating or 100 ppm in the substrate.
- Dishware is not regulated for total lead content as detectable with an XRF.
- Most vintage dishware was also not regulated for leach testing standards (or other standards) at the time of manufacture (depending on the age).
- There are documented cases of both children and adults being poisoned from eating off of high lead vintage/ antique dishware.
- Most “Made in England” vintage china that I have tested has been similarly high lead (in the range of 40,000 to 50,000 ppm and sometimes higher.)
- To be on the safe side, I advocate for avoiding vintage china if at all possible (unless you have had it tested and found it to be truly lead free.)
This dish was “Non-Detect” (negative) for mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As).
Read more about the concern for lead in dishware here.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
[*It’s an Amazon affiliate link & if you purchase something using one of these links I may get a small referral fee from Amazon, at no extra cost to you, in exchange for sending you their way.]
Never Miss an Important Article Again!
Join our Email List
As I am reading this page, on the right-hand side of the screen is “Shop Related Products” and the first item is “Spode Delamere Dinner Plate, Set of 4” on amazon. Tamara, why are ads popping up for items that you are testing positive for lead?
That’s an issue with Amazon!!! I have contacted them about it, but I can’t get them to fix it. I am looking into getting an advertiser where I have more control of what they advertise!
In 2003 I registered for and received numerous wedding gifts of Spode Delamere Blue dishes made in England. I saw this post and just spoke with a customer service rep from Spode who vigorously denied that there is lead in my dishes. How can I accurately test my dishes without destroying them and spending a fortune? How old were the Spode Delamere Blue dishes you tested?
Thank you,
Anne Marie
Hi Anne Marie,
I would expect yours to be likely leaded.I don’t know the age of the ones I tested. They were fairly new – perhaps the same vintage as yours. If you want me to test them and report the results on the blog, here’s how to do that. Thank you! https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/
Tamara