Campbell’s Soups Salute America 1976 Ceramic Mug: 65,300 ppm Lead + 882 ppm Cadmium [mm ‘Lead is good food!’ NOT]

When tested with an XRF instrument the vintage ceramic mug pictured here (Campbell’s Soups Salute America”  – Made in Brazil) tested positive for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument:

White undecorated elements of mug (including inside of mug):

• Lead (Pb): 21,600 +/- 700 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 11, 100 +/- 400 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 544 +/- 84 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 2,129 +/- 291 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 110 +/- 35 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 473 +/- 68 ppm
• Zirconium (Zr): 22,200 +/- 900 ppm
• Metals not detected (in consumer goods / test all mode) are not listed. Tests done for a minimum of 60 seconds with replicable results.

Exterior decorative elements of the mug:

• Lead (Pb): 65,300 +/- 2,300 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 882 +/- 67 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 1,559 +/- 146 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 10, 500 +/- 500 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 134 +/- 65 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 2,783 +/- 321 ppm
• Zirconium (Zn): 11,700 +/- 600 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 16,700 +/- 800 ppm

Note: The year of manufacture of this piece is assumed based on the decorative elements, however it has not been confirmed. The marking on the bottom is also supportive of that assumed year of manufacture.

I would NEVER drink anything (especially a hot beverage that may have acids – like tomato soup!) out of a vessel like this (with this level of lead on the interior surface.) Remember: 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint or coating of an item is considered unsafe (and illegal) for newly manufactured items intended for use by children.

As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama