1939 Physician's Sample Tin of Baby Formula: 456,200 ppm Lead. Frankly the implications of this one are terrifying.

Specially Prepared for Use In Infant Diets.

When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage tin of “Mead Johnson & Co” baby formula supplement (a “Physician’s Sample” – “Not to be sold”) had the following readings (on the the sealing line of the tin when tested for a minimum of 60 seconds).

Lead (Pb): 456,200 +/- 3,400 ppm
Chromium (Cr): 660 +/- 152 ppm
Antimony (Sb): 3,159 +/- 456 ppm
Tin (Sn): 366,600 +/- 3,500 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 1,536 +/- 348 ppm
Iron (Fe): 166,300 +/- 4,100 ppm
Titanium (Ti): 1,696 +/- 314 ppm

“Accepted by the American Medical Association Council on Food”

The sealing line of tin cans used for food use purpose from the era this was made (and really even up through recent times when discussing products not made in the USA) is often a solid line of Lead or a lead sealing dot in the lid. This Lead DOES come in contact with the contents of the tin.

The reason this XRF reading did not come in at “100% Lead” [1,000,000 ppm] is because the Lead-line sealing the can does not fill up the full scope (testing window) of the XRF instrument and also because the Tin (Sn)and Iron (Fe) of the can (that is stuck together with Lead) dilutes the Lead reading as well.

Most of the vintage tins I have tested have been positive for at least some amount of Lead (and often other toxicants as well.) To see more vintage tins I have tested, click here.

As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama