2017 Starbucks Coffee “You Are Here” Collection, California Mug: 6,397 ppm Lead [> 90 is unsafe for kids.]
XRF test results for the mug pictured:
When tested with an XRF instrument this Starbucks Coffee Brand Ceramic “You Are Here” Collection “California” Mug (c. 2017) had the following readings:
- Lead (Pb): 6,397 +/- 184 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative
- Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative
- Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative
The amount of Lead that is considered toxic in the substrate of an item manufactured today as intended for use by children is anything 100 ppm Lead or higher (90 ppm Lead or higher in the glaze.) Dishes and glassware are not generally regulated for lead levels as detectable with an XRF because they are not considered to be “items intended for use by children.”
If you have an interest in learning more about these posts (likely because you are new to my site!) please check out this post and this post for a start! Thanks for visiting!
For lead-free mug & cup choices click here!
To see more Starbucks Coffee items I have tested, click here!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
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Do all of You Are Here Series Starbucks mugs have Lead in them?
I can’t generalize because I haven’t tested enough – but it seems like they do.
Hi Tamara, have you done any testing on the Been there series since posting this blog?
What about the Been There Series? Have you tested any of those?
Hi there Tamara,
Where is the lead in the cup? Is it inside or the writing on the bottom?
Thank you I’m finding your site very interesting!
I RexAnne,
I believe with this particular cup it is the design on the exterior – although I don’t have any other notes from when I originally tested it so I cannot be 100% sure of that. Starbucks mugs are notoriously bad when it comes to Lead and many have Lead on both the interior and the exterior.
Tamara
How about the Starbucks “Been There” series? I have an Arizona mug. Thank you.
What about the red striped mug from Starbucks, 16 oz?
I have a 1994 Starbucks City Series mug (Los Angeles) with a Cadillac image on the cup.
This mug is marked as made in Thailand. Jerry Greer and Jan Belson designed it.
You say that you have tested Starbucks mugs have you tested this series and even this particular mug?
Thank You.
There is an Activity Series of metals that lists which metals will displace other metals from compounds and
I think this is the basis of heavy metals leaching out of glazes.
This information could be found in an inorganic general chemistry course and is available online.
Thank You for all of your efforts; this is a public service.