Brand-new (2019 Open Stock at Fred Meyer) Corelle Key West Dish: 141 ppm Cadmium (75 is illegal in Denmark)

---

For those new to this website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times to confirm the test results for each component tested. Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).

---

What are the exact XRF readings for this dish?

When tested with an XRF instrument, the dish (brand-new off the Fred Meyer shelf, purchased in 2019) pictured here (Made in the USA by Corelle with white glass and the “Key West” pattern) had the following readings:

Scope focused on a dark blue area of the dish:

• Cadmium (Cd): 20 +/- 8 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 1,274 +/- 127 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 507 +/- 52 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 279 +/- 138 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 1,007 +/- 87 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3,827 +/- 224 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 1,488 +/- 157 ppm

Scope focused on a yellow area of the dish:

• Cadmium (Cd): 141 +/- 12 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 909 +/- 67 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 443 +/- 142 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 964 +/- 77 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3208 +/- 222 ppm

All tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds on a freshly calibrated instruments. Tests were repeated multiple times to confirm the results. Test results reported here on the Lead Safe Mama website are science-based and replicable.

Is Cadmium a problem?

Cadmium is a known carcinogen, which in my opinion, does not belong in any kitchenware at any amount (especially in the dishes we eat off of every day with our family)! This is one of the reasons I avoid the Corelle dishes with painted decorative elements (of any color). You can read more about Cadmium toxicity at this link.

For context: The amount of Cadmium considered toxic and illegal in the country of Denmark (the only country I am aware of that has a total Cadmium content limit for consumer goods) is anything 75 ppm or higher. Washington State (here in the U.S.) has a Cadmium toxicity level (for consumer goods) of 40 ppm and higher. As a result, the amount of Cadmium I detected in this dish would be considered illegal in Washington State and Denmark… hmmmm maybe it’s time to have a convo with my friends in the Washington State Health Department about this!

To see more Corelle pieces I have tested (both vintage and new), please click this link.

To see the dishes I recommend and use every day with my family, please click this link.

Thank you for reading and for sharing this work.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama