XRF Test Results For Portmeirion “The Botanic Garden” Plate, c. 1972
As expected (based on the testing of this brand that I have done to date) the food surface of this plate was positive for high levels of lead when tested with an XRF instrument.
To learn more about XRF testing, click here.
Here’s the XRF test results for this exact piece:
- Lead (Pb): 41,100 +/- 1,100 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative/ Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative/ Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative/ Non-Detect
- Barium (Ba): 311 +/- 80 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): Negative/ Non-Detect
- Antimony (Sb): Negative/ Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Negative/ Non-Detect
- Bromine (Br): 112 +/- 33 ppm
To see more Portmeirion items I have tested, click here.
For context: The amount of Lead (Pb) considered unsafe for an item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead (Pb) or higher in the paint or coating and anything 100 ppm Lead (Pb) or higher in the substrate. There is no regulatory standard for limits on lead as detectable with an XRF in vintage or new dishware. Regulatory standards use other testing methodologies to test for toxicants, not methodologies that actually test for (or determine) the total quantifiable Lead (Pb) content in the glaze or substrate of the item.
I personally would never have ANYTHING like this in my home. There are too many lead-safe or lead-free options out there to justify the use of something for food purposes that is so high lead (regardless of whether or not a particular dish is determined to be leaching at the time of manufacture or not.) I would give this a “Grade F”.
To read more about the concern for lead in pottery and dishware, click here.
For some lead-free dish options, check out THIS LINK to start.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
If you would like to make a contribution in support of my independent consumer goods testing, click here. Thank you.
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Hello Tamara,
Do you have any information on the more current editions of dinnerware from the Portmeirion Botanic Garden line? I picked up a couple of bowls from Home Goods about 3 years ago (2015) and saw Marshall’s was selling some plates from the line as recently as last week.
This seems overwhelming – there are thousands of dinnerware sets for sale – how are we possibly to know if they are safe or not?
Thanks,
Christina
in my experience importing dinnerware to sell here in US, customs will not allow any cookware or dinnerware to come into this country without a lead test…before 1970, that was not true but after that, they became very strict!
I’d love to know an answer to that, as well. If they are selling it retail today, and they are, would it be a safer version? I just got 12 of the mugs for Christmas. There’s a code on the mug T1803, made in China, Botanic Garden pattern. Does that tell you anything?
Hello Tamara,
Thank you so much for sharing the valuable information.
I worried about the toxic elements of the dinnerware and didn’t know any current information about lead and cadmium of everyday dinnerware.
Did you test on the more current editions of dinnerware from the Portmeirion Botanic Garden line, Villeroy & Boch (white dinnerware), Manoir, New Wave, Pasta Passion, Vapiano, and Boston (crystal glassware)?
I read the article “Getting the lead out”(Chicago Tribune 2007)
“Many ceramics manufacturers and artisans have stopped using lead-based glazes, which is the shiny solid coating on dinnerware, Bopp says. They have been able to achieve a broad spectrum of colors without the addition of lead.
Dinnerware made pre-1970 (before the FDA established leachable limits), dinnerware of unknown vintage found at flea markets, antiques stores may contain excessive amounts of leachable lead and/or cadmium.” (Chicago Tribune 2007)
I have a lot of dinnerware from Villeroy & Boch , white and off white color New wave (2013), Manoir(2017), New Wave (2020), Pasta Passion(2019), and Vapiano(2020), and Boston (crystal glassware 2018).
After I found out about leaching lead and cadmium of dinnerware, I was wondering whether I should get rid of all those dinnerware or not. Do you have any information on the current editions of f Villeroy & Boch dinnerware?
I want to make sure that Portmeirion botanic garden doesn’t leach lead, cadmium, and any carcinogen before I purchase those plates.
Thank you again for doing all the legwork for us! I really appreciate it!!
Thanks,
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
I have a full set of Portmeirion botanic garden, some purchased around 2000 and some purchased recently. I’ve been struggling to find the source of lead in my high/toxic urine lead levels (which most recently has contributed to developing gout and i’m only 47). I’ve tested so many things, but perhaps not with sensitive enough tests. I’m now suspect of my cookware, mugs, and portmeirion dishes. Wondering if you got an answer to your question?
I’m curious about Villeroy & Boch dishware too. It’s a popular brand.
Dear Tamara, Thank you for your invaluable exposés of high levels of lead and other harmful elements in our dishware. I’m certain your efforts are pressuring industry change towards improving the safety of our dishes. I hope you will XRF test and post results for the recent Portmeirion Harmony line of dishes. It coordinates with Botanic Garden and comes in solid white as well as other solid colors. Although it has no floral decorations, it does have the iconic leaf border, but it is embossed. If this line were to test low lead or lead free, it could be a healthier option for us Botanic Garden devotees.
I’ve mentioned before but I have a 2013 PORTMEIRION EXOTIC BOTANIC GARDEN Oval platter purchased from Amazon in 2017 that I have all ready to send you. I assume you aren’t receiving items right now, away from home? I’d really like to know about these more current plates as my mother uses them daily, and serves food to us on them when we visit.
Hi Jeanne, per the post (linked below) did you already send me images? I usually make a first pass of some free advice by looking at images emailed to me before suggesting people send things in. I did test some newer (2019?) Portmeirion that was in the Lead-safe / low-Lead rang, but I don’t know about 2017 or 2013 – since most of these dishes do not have the year of manufacture on the bottom it is hard to know precisely about one year vs. another.
https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/
I am out of town for a while because my roof collapsed and my kitchen is being gutted (today actually)… so won’t be back in Oregon to accept anything for testing for a while – although I may be able to accept something at another location.
Thanks for commenting!
Tamara
Hi,
It was a dish I bought on Amazon in 2017 to match the ones my mother has at her house. So I guess they might not even be the same as what she has. I thought it might be 2013 because the Amazon description said “Date First Available” was February 6, 2013–but I realize now that could mean anything, that was just the date the entry was made. https://www.amazon.com/PORTMEIRION-EXOTIC-BOTANIC-GARDEN-platter/dp/B00B1HJGYC
I decided I am going to get rid of it either way, so I don’t need it back. I am happy to make a $25 contribution though if/when I send it.
I am also looking for the Portmeirion post that you mentioned being around 2019, but haven’t found it yet.
Where can I post images of the item if you are interested?
hello, did you ever test any Villeroy and Bosch plates? i am looking for white dinner plates that aren’t necessarily Corelle, as i like the heavier duty plates (but not Fiesta-ware heavy 🙂
i currently have a giant collection of Johnson Brothers English Ironstone and I learned recently that those most likely contain lead, even if they aren’t “vintage”?
Thank you so much for all the work you’re doing!!
Liz