Canadian Things - 2009 Starbucks Red & White Ceramic Mug: 1,005 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen) + 259 ppm Lead.

When tested with an XRF instrument this 2009 Red and White Starbucks brand mug (sent to me by a reader in Canada) had the following readings:

On a part with just the white glaze:

Lead (Pb): 259 +/- 23 ppm
Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative
Cadmium (Cd): 17 +/- 7 ppm
Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative
Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect / Negative
Barium (Ba): 939 +/- 61 ppm
Chromium (Cr): Non-Detect / Negative
Selenium (Se): Non-Detect / Negative

On a part with primarily red glaze:

Lead (Pb): 94 +/- 45 ppm
Cadmium (Cd): 1,005 +/- 59 ppm
Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative
Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative
Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect / Negative
Barium (Ba): Non-Detect / Negative
Chromium (Cr): Non-Detect / Negative
Selenium (Se): 196 +/- 55 ppm

All tests were done for a minimum of 30 seconds each – using a freshly calibrated Niton XRF instrument (an XL3T XRF testing in “consumer goods” mode). Tests were repeated multiple times on each component to confirm the results. All test results reported on this blog are science-based, accurate and replicable.

To read my summary about Starbucks branded mugs (which I would never recommend at this point), click here.

To see more mugs I have tested (and there are hundreds examples of mugs I have tested up on the site) – click here.

For Lead-free mug choices, click here.

Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

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

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama