To see more Corelle pieces I have tested, Click HERE.
Vintage Blue “Snowflake” Pattern Corelle Plate (year of manufacture unknown).
When tested with an XRF instrument the painted decorative border on the food surface of this vintage Corelle plate was positive for a very high level of Lead. To see the full XRF readings for this exact plate, scroll down. Note: I don’t know the exact year of manufacture of this piece as it was purchased second hand at Good Will. If you have information about the year of manufacture (or year-range) for this pattern, please comment here on this post.
To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE.
As a mother of Lead-poisoned children and as an environmental activist, I have taken the stand that there is no place for any amount of Lead on our dining tables. None at all.
It literally just takes a microscopic amount of Lead to poison a child (or any human for that matter) and, as of the moment of publishing this post, there is NO ONE (no individual, company, educational institution or other agency) studying the potential impact that eating off of Leaded vintage dishware has on the users (because no corporation stands to benefit financially from such a study). Consequently, as consumers we need to err on the side of prudence, and proactively remove all potential sources of Lead exposure from our homes ourselves, starting with our kitchens.
For a pretty Lead-free & Cadmium-free option, Click HERE.*
These particular dishes tested positive for 7,823 ppm Lead.
For context to better understand what this level of Lead means; the amount of XRF detectable Lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item “intended for use by children” is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, finish or coating, and anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate.
Dishes (modern or vintage) are not considered to be items “intended for use by children”, and thus are not regulated for total lead content (as detectable with an XRF) in the same way as toys and other similar children’s items (unless they are dishes expressly marketed and sold as baby dishes – manufactured after 2010.]
To read more about the concern for XRF-detectable Lead in dishware, click here.
Related: What should I do if my dishes are positive for high levels of lead? Click HERE.
All tests reported on this blog were done for at least 60 seconds each (unless otherwise noted), using an XRF instrument. The XRF instrument used in the testing is a Niton XL3T, a scientific instrument specifically designed and intended expressly for testing consumer goods for Lead and other metals. The results are science-based, replicable and accurate.
Decorative Edge / Food Surface (image above):
- Lead (Pb): 7,823 +/- 141 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 69 +/- 7 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 111 +/- 13 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 889 +/- 88 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 42 +/- 14 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 98 +/- 28 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 492 +/- 100 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 105 +/- 27 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 231 +/- 42 ppm
- Indium (In): 19 +/- 8 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 1,899 +/- 42 ppm
- Platinum (Pt): 154 +/- 51 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 1,743 +/- 111 ppm
Plain White Center of Plate / Food Surface:
- Tin (Sn): 99 +/- 14 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 383 +/- 120 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 81 +/- 25 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 112 +/- 32 ppm
To learn more about the concern for Cadmium (Cd), which is a known carcinogen, Click HERE. XRF detectable Cadmium is considered toxic at levels as low as 40 ppm (and above.)
As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
These are my plates, inherited from Grandma when I couldn’t afford anything else. 1970-1976 were years of manufacture.
Thank you for chiming in Jennifer!
Tamara
You are very welcome. We are eating from paper plates temporarily, now. Before I throw these out, would you like any for your lead museum? We have salad plates, dinner plates, savers, and small mugs. I’m happy to send one of each or a piece of your choice. Just let me know. And thank you. I’ve eaten from these plates since birth at my grandmother’s, and every day for the last ten years. I hope my children have not suffered too much :(.
My parents have had this set since before I was born in 1978. Mom said early-mid 70’s as well. I ate off of these all my life til I moved out and they are still using them. I am replacing my bone china, that breaks so easily, with plain white correlleware. I’m glad to find out it is safe to use. Out bone chine ones are plain as well.
Link with more info about them. May want to test the coordinating Pyrex pattern as well, if you come across it. My mom has many pieces, but not sure she will give any up.
We received these as bridal shower and wedding gifts in 1975. Unfortunately I have used them everyday since. This is so scary.
I received this set as a wedding gift in May of 1976, and have used them daily ever since!