Updated: Saturday – August 7, 2021
Question:
Tamara, can I send you one of my dishes to test for lead? [Or – if not a dish – some other toy, jewelry, trinket, heirloom, whatever!]
Answer:
Yes you may send me a small simple item (if it is from a set of dishes please send a whole saucer, not a broken piece of something) to test – along with a $35.00 contribution to help cover the cost of the testing. If it s a complex item (like a multi-component toy, I may require a larger contribution amount to cover the cost.)
Please read the entire post below before sending any item in for testing.
If you do send me an item, I will test it, photograph it and report the results on the blog so that everyone may benefit from this freely available information. If the item tests positive for Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Antimony or Mercury and you don’t want it sent back (after learning of the results of the testing)I will keep it for my “Museum of Lead” collection. This is collection of items that I have in storage that I am actually preparing for a touring museum exhibit demonstrating the pervasiveness of Lead and other toxicants commonly found in consumer goods. If you want the item back (Lead or no Lead) please plan on covering return shipping in addition to the $35.00.
CoViD-19 / Pandemic UPDATE:
- While I try to get to things as quickly as possible (sometimes within a week or two) I need folks to expect that TEST RESULTS may not be available for at least 10 weeks (and possibly longer) from the date your package is received.
- The date that your payment (to help cover testing costs) is received will dictate the order in which I process items (testing and reporting), so please make your payment at the time of sending the package. Digital forms of payment is preferred (over paper checks) thank you.
- As soon as your testing is completed and a blog post with the test results is published on the blog, I will send you the link to the blog post so you have the results at the same time as everyone else.
This is a collaboration, not a service.
Participating in supporting the independent testing of consumer goods reported here on the Lead Safe Mama blog should not be seen a “service” that I regularly offer, but more of a collaborative effort where my readers help cover the cost of testing and help direct what products I report about on my blog. (Please note, the blog post is the “report”, I don’t create any other report other than the blog post with the test results.)
For context: cost to hire someone to do this as a service.
If you want to hire someone to do this for you as a service, rates normally range from $49 to $99 per test done and many items (specifically items with multiple components or multiple colors of paint or glaze) may require multiple tests – one for each component or color. As a result (for example) testing for a toy with three different color components could cost as much as $300 for the one toy.
By structuring this as a collaborative effort (you are helping me to find new things to share on the blog) In this way the testing helps others who might have the same dish pattern (or same toy or water bottle or other item) and who also have questions about those items. I only invite readers to send items in if the item (or dish pattern) is one I have not yet tested (a pattern for which I have not yet reported the results on my blog.)
Before contributing please read all of the additional details below. Here’s my chip in link (to make your $35 contribution once I have confirmed that I would like you to send in your item)- my shipping address is also on this linked page (the address send the item for testing): https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/chip-in/
Sincerely,
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
#LeadSafeMama
Some additional details:
If you want me to test your dishes (or other item)…
- Search for your item here on the blog first. Use keywords including the brand name / manufacturer and pattern name or pattern details (like “Lenox” or “Crate & Barrel” or “roses” or “rose pattern” or “purple violets”).
- If you have not yet watched this video on how to use the blog, please watch it to aid in your search (it will save you tons of time in the future.)
- If you don’t find your item – double check in the “Made In” category (like “Made in England” or “Made in Japan” – whatever the country of manufacture is stated on the bottom of the dish or other product.)
- If you still don’t find it on the blog send me an e-mail request to test your item. The email must include a picture of the item you would like to send. If the item is a dish, you must include a picture of the back and front of the dish and the approximate year purchased / year manufactured. Please put “Can you test my dishes?” [or “Can you test my ____” with the item name in the blank if it is not a dish!] in the subject line of your email – along with the pattern and manufacturer – like “Wedgwood – Beatrix Potter” or “Pottery Barn – Emma”
- IMPORTANT: Please include in your email a quick note sharing how you found out about this work and how long you have been following the website (and/or how long you have been following Lead Safe Mama on social media.)
- PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME A REQUEST WITHOUT IMAGES.
- Send this email to TamaraRubin@mac.com
- I will e-mail you back (usually the same day) and either let you know if I have already tested it OR (if I have not tested that pattern yet) I will invite you to send in a dish. If I have tested the item (or one similar) I will send you a link to that blog post so you can see the test results.
- At this point (once I have confirmed with you that I would like to test your item), you can make your payment using the link above.
- NOTE: When you send in an item for testing it may take 6 to 8 weeks for me to test and report on that item (sometimes it takes longer and sometimes it can be done more quickly – depending on whether or not I have access to an XRF instrument at that time.)
- Please include a PAPER note with your contact information (name, address, phone, email) in with the dish when you ship it.
- Please make sure to pack the dish (or other item) very well so it does not break in shipping!
As always, please let me know if you have any additional questions!
Thank you for reading the Lead Safe Mama website!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Did you ever test Pfaltzgraff patterns? I had bought them at the time Tea Rose 1990’s and Winterberry 2000″s . I use them on special occasions. I have be read your e-mails. What an eye opener.
There’s a very popular glass baby bottle brand – Evenflo – that I do not see any posts about on your site. I would love to know if it is safe because it’s one of the only glass bottles that is compatible with standard breastpumps. This is also a product with over 280 reviews on target and hundred more than that on Amazon! Would you be willing to test it? I can send you one if you preferred.
McCoy Pottery Drip Glaze French Onion Handled Soup Chili Bowl #7054 made in USA
I have searched your site for this maker/item but found nothing, if you have information
on testing of this pottery I would appreciate a link. (Not a lot of information on general
web searches either) I suspect it would test similar to the Hull mug you posted results for,
in appearance the McCoy bowls are very similar looking. I live in Salem and could get a
bowl to you for testing if interested.
hi tamara. i recently was given several frankoma mugs that appear to have been produced in the mid to late 1960s. i love the look and feel and drinking experience but concerned about possible high levels of toxins. wondering if you have any test results with this brand/time period. thanks for sharing your knowledge on this subject and opening our eyes to unhealthy choices we are not always thinking about. appreciate the work and your passion. best regards – george
Hi! I see in this post that you tested the pottery barn Emma plates.
Where can I find the results for that one? Please
Thank you!! Also any chance you have already tested Al-clad D5 pots and pans?
Appreciate all that you do and the information that You so freely share with us. I Oh that you have information on canning jars. But I just noticed that BALL has come With a rose colored canning jar. The advertisement for it makes it look as if people would just use it for decorative use such as a vase. Have you been able to test them yet to see if the result would be the same as it is for the blue and amber ball jars?
I haven’t tested those yet – sorry!
T
I have a set of noritake ivory china Geri #7026. Do you know by chance if that is lead free?
I am based in Eugene Oregon and picked up the set at an estate sale years ago and just unwrapped it for the first time
Compare the back mark to the Noritake Back Marks in the examples here on the site. If the back mark is similar to one of the examples I have tested then the lead levels are likely similar. Here’s the Noritake category:
https://tamararubin.com/category/noritake/
Tamara
thank you for your timely response! I don’t see the #7026 on any of those pictures. do you know if there is another archive I can check or I can send you a picture to help verify?
Corelles website states that the paint is sealed in glass and has been tested rigorously for leaching It further stated that it is safe for use. See. http://Www.corelle.com. Are corelle products lead free?
I am aware that this is their new public statement but it is not actually a 100% factual statement, it is a “spun” statement for PR / Greenwashing purposes. I am working on a response to this new public statement. Simply put the designs are not under glass (they sometimes test positive with a reactive agent home test kit). I am fairly certain their studies were done only on new condition products, not products with wear from decades of daily use. You can read more about the concern here:
https://tamararubin.com/topics/does-vintage-and-new-functional-pottery-and-dishware-have-unsafe-levels-of-lead/
Tamara
Greetings Tamara,
Thank you for ALL the work you do to help us and our families stay safe.
I am considering a purchase form a new (new to me anyway) company called, Fable. I was unable to find any reviews on your site. Do you know if you have tested any of their tableware? If not, I may procure a single plate or bowl and send it to you for testing before I purchase an entire set. Hopefully this will prove helpful to others as the company seems to be gaining in popularity.
Many thanks,
Jeanece
I would also be curious about Fable tableware!
Hi Tamara, thank you for the work that you do. I have been reading your site and it seemed you are no longer accepting any submissions for testing at your email TamaraRubin@mac.com. Is that right? I have the Mikasa Ciara dinnerware collection bought from HomeGoods about 2 years ago and I don’t see that on your Mikasa page – I would love to get this tested by you.
I also have a guaranteed “lead free” RCR Cristalleria Italiana Crystal Glass Drinkware and based on your site, am suspicious of it being actually lead free given it is crystal. I don’t see this on your site and would like to get this tested.
Lastly, on your site https://shopleadsafemama.com/2021/05/glassware/, you have recommended 3 Libbey glassware. Are these the actual ones you use or the specific ones you’ve tested? I didn’t see it in the Libbey section so I want to be sure they are nontoxic and safe.
I am also in conversation with Mikasa and Godinger.. waiting to hear more about whether their stuff is lead and cadmium free, or if there are traces. Below is the initial response I’ve received from Mikasa, but I have pressed for more info. I have also reached out to Godinger and am waiting to hear back. Happy to keep you updated here too.
Dear Valued Customer,
Thanks for reaching out with your question about lead in Mikasa products. We’re happy to let you know that all our products are perfectly safe to use every day. Mikasa products are manufactured using naturally occurring ingredients (like clay), and are thoroughly tested by accredited, independent laboratories, and all meet or exceed federal standards and California Proposition 65 requirements relating to lead and other contaminants.
Please let us know if you have any additional questions, and thanks for choosing Mikasa!
Sincerely,
Mikasa Customer Service