These are the bowls I bought for my family last year. I got both the large and small size and I love them – for everything. These are the things I love about them: super practical, high sides, less spilling, good for storing stuff in the fridge, break resistant and yes – LEAD FREE (most important feature!)
The plain white Corelle dishes are NOT ceramic. They are white glass. They are not glazed and do not have any kind of surface finish other than the glass. They are a consistent white glass material throughout.
These are my TOP PICK for Lead-free dishes in my home (in anyone’s home.) Frankly I would buy a dozen more of each piece from this set today if I had the extra money – both to have back ups for when we have company and to fill in the gaps in the kitchen when pieces eventually break (which they do with four boys in the house!)
Here are Amazon affiliate* links to the exact dishes I have in my home and use every day (including this bowl):
- Decorative Serving Bowl – 1 Quart
- Large Bowl – 28 oz
- Small Bowl – 12 oz
Folks have asked me to do a more comprehensive post about the materials in the glass so here that is for all of you. Some people seem to have a hard time believing how non-toxic these actually are (compared to other options!)
Below are the exact test results for two areas of one of these bowls: the inside food surface and the outside area including the logo (which is grayish black in color.) Each set of readings is from a full minute test.
To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE.
Food Surface XRF Readings (image above):
- Lead (Pb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Barium (Ba): Negative / Non-Detect
- Chromium (Cr): Negative / Non-Detect
- Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Negative / Non-Detect
- Zinc (Zn): Negative / Non-Detect
- Iron (Fe): 369 +/- 76 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 88 +/- 15 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 80 +/- 17 ppm
- Indium (In): 18 +/- 6 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): Negative / Non-Detect
Logo Area XRF Readings (image above):
- Lead (Pb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Barium (Ba): Negative / Non-Detect
- Chromium (Cr): 324 +/- 107 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Negative / Non-Detect
- Zinc (Zn): 339 +/- 41 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 982 +/- 175 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 888 +/- 86 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 6,341 +/- 317 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 288 +/- 89 ppm
As always, please let me kow if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and – most important – thank you for sharing my posts.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Hi Tamara, do you still recommend Corelle dinnerware? I need some affordable dinnerware, 4 pieces of plates (small and large) and 4 bowls and 4 cups for tea and coffee. Or if you recommend anything else maybe from Ikea? Thank you very much
I emailed Corelle yesterday and this is what they said:
All Corelle dinnerware sets are going to be the same. All are made from our Vitrelle glass with the only difference being the design.
We appreciate your concern. Corelle Brands values the safety of its products. You will be comforted to know that we routinely test our (Corelle)® products for harmful lead or cadmium content at certified, internationally-recognized third-party testing laboratories. The tests are conducted using protocols developed by the National Institute for Standards that form the basis for industry standards and regulatory testing mandates for lead or cadmium leachate in tableware, including mugs. (Lead content that is not a leachate poses no health risks). We are unable to share testing data with you as it is proprietary. We wish to assure you, however, that our testing confirms that (Corelle)® products comply with all applicable federal and state safety regulations, including those relating to lead and other heavy metals content, and they are safe to use in a manner consistent with their use and care instructions.
So they really didn’t say what I was hoping to hear. At this point I am not sure what to do. Sad that companies aren’t transparent. It shouldn’t be this difficult to find safe products for our families. I wanted to get Corelle but not sure if it is still safe.
Does the Corelle Vitrelle plain white bowl have aluminum in it? Thanks!
Hi Connie,
I have not tested for the presence of Aluminum. The GUI in Consumer Goods mode on the instrument I use does not read aluminum unfortunately. I can try testing it in Metals mode and let you know what I come up with. Keep an eye on the blog. I will add it to my (very long) “to do list”!
Tamara
Hi Tamara, about to purchase Corelle, however, I read to be wary of recycled glass and noticed they are made from up to 80% recycled glass. Do you feel these are still a great non toxic option? Thanks!
They are still a likely non-toxic option – although I have not tested the recycled glass ones specifically. They are not post-consumer recycled glass – they are recycling scrap glass from within their process – so the recycled language (in this case) is pure greenwashing bullshit and I have stopped recommending this brand even though they are still relatively non-toxic (I am no longer actively recommending them due to political considerations.)
T
Thank you ❤️
May I ask which ones you are actively recommending. I just purchased the Corelle Winter Frost white 🙁 !
Could I please ask if you would use the coffee mugs in the Corelle white dinner service? They are made in China do you know what regulations govern them? Thanks Anne
I stopped using all the 1970’s Corelle gold butterfly and 1997 blue heart Corelle dishes, bowls, dessert dishes, coffee, and tea cups. Today, June 5, 2021 , I bought a box of plain white Corelle dinner dishes, luncheon /dessert dishes, and cereal bowls which I hope our lead free.
The plain white ones should all be Lead-free!
– Tamara
Are Corelle dishes with designs also lead free or only the white ones?
Most of the Corelle dishes with designs test positive for at least some trace of Lead or Cadmium (the newer ones) and the older patterns (pre-2005) can test positive for high levels of Lead, Arsenic or Cadmium. Please read this overview post: https://tamararubin.com/2022/08/breaking-news-august-2022-corelle-instant-brands-confirms-but-downplays-the-presence-of-leaded-glaze-used-for-the-food-surface-decorations-of-their-vintage-dishware/
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
Loving everything that you do with regards to raising awareness of the presence of these potent neurotoxins in everything from dental amalgam fillings to the seemingly innocent daily essentials such as cookware and crockery. May I ask whether you tested the new white Corelle plates for aluminium as I hear that this metal will also leach into food/drink from glassware.
Kind regards,
Hi Natasha,
The GUI on “Consumer Goods Mode” does not test for Aluminum, but I will look into that.
T
I have a set of Corelle dishes purchased in the later 90s, country cottage pattern. What are your thoughts about the lead levels with this set?
Also , I am cleaning out my grandmothers home and she has the vintage butterfly gold pattern and my dad still uses the crazy daisy pattern. Should I dispose of them and what would be the best way to do this?
Hi. So are the plain corelle classic white safe to use? Are they FREE of lead and cadmium and other toxic substances? Or they’re just lead and cadmium SAFE, meaning they still contain those toxic substances? What about the content highlighted in blue, what do those mean? I just want to buy a dinnerware set that will be safe for my family.
Following this to see aluminum updates
Hi Tamara,
I was wondering if Corelle contains aluminum? Why doesn’t anyone ask about this metal in dishes, since aluminum cookware is considered unhealthy, why wouldn’t aluminum in dishes be also ?
That’s a good question. Aluminum doesn’t read in consumer goods mode for testing (using an XRF instrument) – I have to do separate tests in other modes to determine aluminum levels. I know that glass (in general) is made of sand (silica) but obviously some glass can be high in other things (Leaded crystal can be up to 50% Lead and still looks like clear glass.) I need to check and verify the aluminum content of these dishes – and would need to do some lab testing to confirm it – but it is possible that the glass substrate (which is considered inert in the form of dishes) is a high-aluminum glass. It’s on my to do list to try to determine how much aluminum is actually in these dishes.
T
Hi Tamara,
Are there specific corelle ware plates designs and colors one should avoid?
I have heard red and yellow contain cadmium . How about blue, grey black ? Or even Browns . Do any of these contain lead cadmium arsenic etc?
Is it ok if the designs are on the outside? Do these leach only if contact with food or do they release toxic gas when these fishes are placed in microwave and heated?
Is there a hone test for lead one can use on dishes?
I can’t wait to hear the replies on these questions! I’ve been using corning ware / corelle (and pyrex) all my life and I’m in my my mid 50’s. I’d really like to know the results on the different patterns and see which ones are dangerous before getting rid of them. Thanks for all you do Tamara!
Hi
Is there a list of plate and their lead and cadmium content? If lead content is above what’s safe, why is it still being sold on eBay and thrift stores? Thanks for your help!!
L
Why doesn’t Corelle mark these dishes as “Lead Free”? It seems like they should, if it’s really true.
Hi Janine!
I think if they did that they might have concerns that they would then need to go back and publicly admit the high levels of Lead that they used in their older decorated products!
Tamara
Are the Corelle livingware dishes in plain white suggested as well? I bought a few of your recommended Bella embossed but like the size and look of the livingware lunch plates. Thanx!
Have you tested old vintage Tupperware?
Have these plain white Corelle dishes always been lead free, or only very recently? I have a set that was purchased probably around 2013. Thank you 🙂
Hi Christina, Thank you for commenting.
All of the plain white pieces (from all of the years of production that I have tested) have been Lead-free. They are a good choice across the board!
Tamara
Hi Tamara.
I have a mixed collection of Corelle Winter Frost White dishes with the stoneware mugs. Main sets was purchased about 2002-3. Replacement pieces purchased purchased throughout the years. I’m assuming they’re lead free? Should I replace everything? Other than lead, are they free of other contaminants as well?
Thank you
I would love to know this as well! I have the same concerns.
Thank you for you work!
I purchased the “Corelle Livingware – Corelle Fun Packs, Winter Frost White” (Model #1040096) on Amazon in Feb of 2011. The set has (1) 2 quart bowl, & (4) 28 oz bowls.
The bottom stamp on my 28 oz bowl looks different and has different font than what you have in the 3rd picture on this page (purchased in 2017).
Do you think the set I purchased in 2011 could contain lead? They are Winter Frost White, but much older.
Also, there are grey streaks all over them and I am wondering if these are marks from lead. Some articles online suggest that these are utensil marks that can be removed with a baking soda paste. They look like lead pencil marks.
Please let me know your insight. TY!!
I called Corelle today this is what they said:
To satisfy requirements concerning consumer warnings on packaging at time of sale and/or advertisement in the state of California (so-called California Proposition 65), only traces of heavy metals (including lead) are permitted. The current limit for presence of leachable lead in order to satisfy California requirements is no more than 0.100 ppm (1 tenth of one part per million) when obtained under test conditions. At no time have our results exceeded those which are permissible under the guidelines mentioned above (which are believed to be the most stringent in the world). Also note that tests for the presence of heavy metals are conducted for Corelle Brands by internationally certified, third-party laboratories under strict conditions, by trained technicians, and using atomic absorption spectrophotometry analysis following carefully monitored preparation. These steps are necessary to minimize any possibility of contamination or false reading during preparation, testing or analysis.
Hi Tamara,
I have a set of bowls from 1970’s Pyrex white and red on the outside. They were my mother’s. Having read your article I’m sure they contain lead and cadmium. I was wondering about the Debbie Myers Green boxes/bags. I use them to store baked goods like bread. Does Debbie Myers Green boxes/bags contain anything tox?
Thank you,
Barbara
Hi Tamara, I bought a set of the Corelle Winter Frost White dinnerware you recommended and then I found the big bowls 28 oz, at Target for much less than Amazon, however, they are not called Winter Frost White, it says, Corelle Livingware Vitrelle Dining Bowls White. Do you believe these are as non toxic as the Winter Frost White? I don’t know if they change when making items for other vendors, that’s why I’m asking. I don’t think the item numbers were the same and I threw the box away. Thanks for your time https://www.target.com/p/corelle-livingware-28oz-4pk-vitrelle-dining-bowls-white/-/A-51521451
Hi! Thank you so much, Tamara, for the information you provide – you are filling a gap that really should be covered by a government funded agency, and it’s shameful that it’s not.
I recently came across Luminarc glass bowls that look similar to Corelle (white glass), but they are made of what they call “ opal glass” and the white apparently comes from the addition of fluorine (!) – disheartening to read as someone with longstanding endocrine issues. Would you happen to know if the same is true of Vitrelle, or if not fluorine, then what chemical it is that produces the white coloring of Vitrelle? Thanks!
Hi – I don’t know enough about the chemistry to have an answer for that. It is glass, so I assume a silica base (sand)… but what the primary components of that sand are I am not sure.
T
Have you found any info on the fluorine?
Follow up: what is the difference between the vitrelle and white opal glass?
From a different company? Does Corelle make white opal glass? is that what you are asking? Please clarify. Thank you!
Tamara
Tamara,
Do you know if the Meal Bowl and Versa Bowl that Corelle make have tested the same as the other dishes in their Winter Frost White Livingware collection? They are advertised as being made of 80% recycled glass. I haven’t noticed any indication that the other standard items in this line are made of recycled glass and was concerned this might produce higher results of some toxins.
Thank you,
Kathy
Are all the plain beige Corelle dishes lead-free?
Kathy asked you a question about Corelle versa and meal bowl now advertising that they are 80% recycled glass. When I purchased mine this was not divulged in the description or the packaging and I’m pretty sure I would have caught that. Do we need to be worried about that? I am exhausted from scrutinizing every purchase I make to later find there is one more thing to be concerned with. These companies need some ramifications for there nontransparency!! Please reply. Thank you
I have not yet tested ANY Corelle that is plain (no painted decorative markings) that was positive for unsafe levels of Lead or Cadmium. Here is one set of test results for a newer piece:
https://tamararubin.com/2020/04/modern-2019-2020-plain-white-corelle-plate-with-new-logo-negative-for-lead-cadmium-arsenic-mercury/
Here’s the “Modern Corelle” category on the website:
https://tamararubin.com/category/modern-corelle/
I don’t believe their recycled glass pieces are a concern. I expect they may not be post-consumer recycled glass.
Tamara
The decorative serving bowl that you mention above with a link to Amazon, has the Proposition 65 warning of lead exposure with this product at the Amazon disclaimer when you click. Why are you saying that it is lead and cadmium free or is Amazon wrong with this prop 65from California there?
I’m concerned about my Sandstone – (solid cream) Corelle. They’re old, and they no longer carry them.
Has anyone done any testing on this color?
There are several posts here with XRF test results for the cream colored substrate. Just click the “Corelle” tab at the top of any of these posts and look through the list until you see one that is the color you are concerned about. T
Thanks for sharing this life-changing article on lead free dishes. Keep up the good work.
Well, I just threw out all my Corell dishes, carefully sought out at yard sales. We ate on paper plates tonight.
Although you don’t recommend Corell for political reasons, I would love if you had them in your Amazon page anyway. It would be nice for you to get the commission.
You have lead free interested people here, but we may not all choose the same political battle. I really want to avoid the clear glass option you present. Teenage boys, you know! Chip resistant is very important to me.
Thanks for all you do.
I have plain white Vitrelle bowls and plates from before 2005. Is this a concern? Isn’t the lead found in the painted details? Just wondered if you have tested plain whites prior to 2005.