The Ellen DeGeneres Show Set Mug: Lead-Free, Cadmium-Free, Arsenic-Free – because of course it is! You rock Ellen!
When tested with an XRF instrument, this gray and white Ellen show official set mug had the following readings:
White text on outside of mug:
- Barium (Ba): 1,969 +/- 130 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 2,924 +/- 191 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 12,800 +/- 500 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 319 +/- 72 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 1,629 +/- 173 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 8,340 +/- 536 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 1,046 +/- 193 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 54,900 +/- 2,300 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 14,100 +/- 500 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 3,775 +/- 309 ppm
Blue text on outside of mug:
- Barium (Ba): 2,186 +/- 140 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 4,247 +/- 223 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 14,200 +/- 500 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 411 +/- 77 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 1,956 +/- 184 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 10,000 +/- 600 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 2.242 +/- 165 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 16,100 +/- 700 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 15,500 +/- 500 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 4,509 +/- 330 ppm
Dark gray glaze on outside of mug:
- Barium (Ba): 2,595 +/- 162 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 4,908 +/- 238 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 15,200 +/- 600 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 397 +/- 78 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 1,926 +/- 187 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 10,700 +/- 600 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 2,594 +/- 159 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 5,384 +/- 304 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 17,400 +/- 600 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 5,081 +/- 355 ppm
Continue reading below the image.
White glazed inside (food surface) of mug (above):
- Barium (Ba): 1,536 +/- 126 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 22,000 +/- 800 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 409 +/- 77 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 1,072 +/- 229 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 1,435 +/- 115 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 3,003 +/- 213 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 17,400 +/- 600 ppm
Continue reading below the image.
Unglazed rim on bottom of mug (above image):
Tested multiple times to confirm that the base clay was negative for Lead.
- Barium (Ba): 571 +/- 47 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 776 +/- 79 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 2,289 +/- 95 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 99 +/- 33 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 250 +/- 63 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 8,373 +/- 365 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 553 +/- 50 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 2,885 +/- 138 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 2,158 +/- 54 ppm
- Platinum (Pt): 111 +/- 44 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 622 +/- 119 ppm
Any additional metals not listed were not detected. As with all posts on this blog, all tests were done with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in “Consumer Goods” mode, for at least 60 seconds [unless otherwise noted]. Results are science based and replicable.
Way to go ELLEN! This is the first of the Talk Show Set Mugs that I have tested that has been both LEAD-FREE and CADMIUM-FREE (because of course it is, Ellen!) Thank you.
To reiterate why I am doing these posts:
While “Toxicants In On-Set Talk-Show Mugs” is obviously an absurdly arcane and limited “consumer product concern”… I thought it might be a fun “conversation-starter”; I wanted to get the attention of talk show hosts on the real issue: the continued widespread use of neurotoxic heavy metals (like Lead and Cadmium) in mass-marketed manufactured consumer goods — so that I could hopefully draw their attention to the fact that, for instance, I have found many newly-manufactured BABY BOTTLES with Lead in them in the past 2+ years, yet – incredibly – no regulatory agency is doing anything about those findings — nor have any recalls been initiated as a result of those findings!
I know the “news cycle” has a short attention span, and there’s undeniably a LOT of crazy and troubling stuff to report on these days, but come on — if LEAD-PAINTED logos and other markings on freakin’ BABY BOTTLES in 2019 isn’t worthy of a few minutes of serious journalistic attention, just what the heck is?!
To see all of my posts about Leaded baby bottles, click here.
To see more mugs I have tested, click here.
For my #SaferChoices for mugs and guidelines on picking out a non-toxic coffee mug, click here.
As always, thank you so much for reading and for sharing my posts.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Each of the “Set Mugs” in this series was purchased directly from the gift store for the show in question (and based on my research is the official mug for the current 2019 season.)
Do you know what brand the real talk show marble mugs
Sorry – no.
– Tamara
Hi Tamara,
Have you tested by any chance the Ellen DeGeneres by Royal Doulton line of mugs or dishes? I like the design and would love to purchase a few pieces from the collection. I would be grateful if you could give me any insight.
King regards,
Natasha
Hi Natasha – here’s how the testing on the website works:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/
In general I don’t like the Royal Doulton brand from an ethical standpoint. They made very popular baby dishes with high levels of Lead and never issued a statement asking their customers to stop using those products.
Tamara
I now understand that this Ellen mug testing safe is rare when it comes to the majority of ceramic mugs being manufactured. Unfortunately, before I discovered your site and became aware of this fact I purchased a couple of really cute Harry Potter mugs for my daughter’s Christmas present and now i’m trying to decide what to do with them. They are a Paladone product desighned in the U.K. made in China, would you have any experience with this company. Thank you again for the work you do, Tracy.