Can I send in one of my dishes (or other items) to test for Lead? Yes, maybe — but read this first! Thanks.
Updated: Saturday — July 27, 2024
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 (maybe)!
- For baby bottles or collectible decorated/ painted glassware: If you would like to send in a piece of painted/ decorated collectible glassware or a baby bottle that we have not yet tested and reported on, you may do that free of charge (following the instructions below). We will not send this item back to you, but will hold on to it for our archives.
- For other items: After sending an email describing your item and checking in with Lead Safe Mama about testing first, you may send in a small simple item (if it is from a set of dishes please send a whole saucer, not a broken piece of something) — along with a $35 contribution to help contribute towards the (subsidized) cost of testing and reporting. If it is a complex item (like a multi-component toy), we may require a larger contribution amount to help cover the costs of our testing and reporting on that item.
Please read the entire article below before sending any item in for testing.
If you are invited to send in an item, we will test it, take photographs, and report the XRF test results on this website so 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 to you (after learning of the test results), then we will keep it for our “Museum of Lead” collection. This is a collection of items we have in storage as preparation 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 the costs of return shipping in addition to the $35.
July 2024 UPDATE:
- While we try to get to things as quickly as possible (sometimes within a week or two) we need folks to expect that TEST RESULTS may not be available for at least 15 weeks (and possibly longer) from the date your package is received.
- Our next anticipated period for testing items sent in by readers is October 2024, although this may change.
- The date that your payment (to help cover testing costs) is received will dictate the order in which we process items (testing and reporting), so please make your payment at the time of sending the package.
- Digital forms of payment are preferred (over paper checks) — thank you.
- As soon as your testing is completed and an article with the test results for your item is published on the website, we will send you a link to the article 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 website (TamaraRubin.com/LeadSafeMama.com) should not be seen a “service” we offer, but more of a collaborative effort where LeadSafeMama.com readers help cover the cost of testing and direct what products we report about on our website. (Please note, the article written about your item is the “report,” we don’t create any other report beyond the website article with 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 $75 to $279 per test conducted, 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. For example, testing a single toy with three different color components could cost as much as $300 or more.
By structuring this as a collaborative effort, you are helping Lead Safe Mama, LLC find new things to test and share about on the website. In this way, the testing helps others who might have the same dish pattern (toy, water bottle, etc.) as well as questions about those items. We only invite readers to send items in if the item is one we have not already tested (or if it is a dish pattern we have not yet reported the results for on the LeadSafeMama.com website).
Additional Important Details:
If you want us to test your dishes (or other items)…
- Search for your item here on the website first. Use keywords, including the brand name/manufacturer and pattern name or details (like “Lenox,” “Crate & Barrel,” or “roses,” “rose pattern,” or “purple violets”). You can also search for your item starting with the website menu (here’s that link).
- If you have not yet watched this video on how to use LeadSafeMama.com, 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 the “Made In” categories (like “Made in England,” “Made in Japan,” or whatever other country of manufacture is stated on the bottom of the dish or other product).
- If you still don’t find it on the site, send an e-mail requesting that we 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: In your email, please include 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 IN A REQUEST WITHOUT ATTACHING IMAGES.
- Send your emails to Testing@LeadSafeMama.com
- We will e-mail you back as soon as possible.
- Given the sheer volume of requests we get, our response MAY not be sent until months after you send in the request (please be patient!).
- In our response, we will either let you know if we have already tested your item OR (if we have not tested that pattern yet), we may invite you to send in your item.
- If we have tested the item (or one similar), we will send you a link to that article so you can see the test results.
- At this point (once we have confirmed with you that we would like to test your item and write about it for this website), you can make your contribution (to reserve your space in our testing schedule) using the payment options in the email that we will send you.
- NOTE: When you send in an item for testing it may take 16 weeks or longer for us to test and report on that item (sometimes it takes longer and sometimes it can be done more quickly, depending on our travel schedule and whether or not we have access to an XRF instrument at that time).
- Please include a PAPER note with your contact information (name, address, phone, email) in the box 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 us know if you have any additional questions.
Thank you for reading the Lead Safe Mama website!
Sincerely,
Tamara Rubin
Owner — Lead Safe Mama, LLC
#LeadSafeMama
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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.
I am wondering the same thing. I have Pfaltzgraff Heritage dishes. They are all-white like the one shown above but they are Pfaltzgraff. I copied all the information above and will review it tomorrow to decide if I want to send in a saucer.
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!
Me too about fable. I emailed them and they sent me some lab results. But not sure what to make of them
Interesting! Would you be able to share the results here?
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
Have you ever tested Pyrex’s purple, green, or blue glass plates and cookware (9×13 pan, 8″ square, etc)? These are colored glass–no surface painting. I searched your site but could not find anything like these.
I have also been wondering about coloured glass cookware. I have some brown/amber frying pans that are a transparent glass and wonder if they are ok.
Please
Would you see what you can do for info on ruby glass ware made by avon think in the 80’s .
(Cape Cod collection) cannot find any info that is helpful. Is it lead and whatever else could be included.
safe to eat off… Really would appreciate your input…
Thankfully Janice
I’ve read and would love to get a dish to you to check for me!
I’ve sent pictures and info on the set but have not heard back! (Or somehow missed it !)
Can I drop one off as I am in Portland on a semi regular basis ?
This post has been helpful. I have a set of dishes that my mother-in-law got as a wedding gift. I think she brought from England and they are hand-painted. They are more than 55 years old from her Mom to Canada. It is called ” Prairie Flowers” by Wedgwood. So can I email you pictures as I couldn’t find it on the search unless I am doing it wrong.
Hi Tamara,
You often talk about how dishes intended for children must be below 90 ppm lead. What year did that law begin? I’m asking because I have vintage Sesame Street cookie monster mug and plate that my son has used the last several years (he was born in 2014) but this set is much older than him. (I have no idea how old it is). Thank you for all the work you do!
That law was passed in 2008 and became fully enforceable in 2011. The name of the law is the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of2008.
T
Can you test a mug that has a crack in it?
Thank you for all you do to keep our homes lead-free!!
Evening,
Inquiring minds was wondering if you have or are in the process of testing the Mikasa L9709 gold wedding ring style made in Japan.
Thanks
Hi Tamara,
Wondering if you know which pieces have lead from princess house? I have plates, glasses and one pan with crystal lid. I know you already posted their mugs.
Thank you for all your work.
The ones sold as leaded crystal (and possibly just sold as crystal.)
T
Great website.
Sadly my wife’s mother passed away and gave her a set of new unopened Corelle forget-me-not dishes. I think model 2020-17. She would like to use them to remember her mother. I didn’t see that pattern anywhere. Have you tested this?
Thank you very much for your work!
Hi Tamara, do you have a 2024 update regarding sending in items to be checked by you and your XRF machine?
Have you tested Anchor Hocking Glass Clear Medallion Star & Cameo Berry Bowls? I have these bowls as serving bowls in clear glass, amber, and green. I also have the berry bowls in clear, amber, and green. Some have than Anchor Hocking imprint on them but not all pieces have it.
Have you tested Russel Wright Iroquois white china?
I think I saw a post concerning this same thing. I have been collecting Pfaltzgraff Heritage dishes and am worried sick now that they may contain lead. I have contacted customer service and they are being pretty vague. I don’t want to expose my family to lead as all the others have posted. What are your thoughts? Thank you for all you are doing!