For those new to the Lead Safe Mama 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 four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005).
- Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC — a unique community collaborative woman-owned small business for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety.
- Since 2009, Tamara has been conducting XRF testing (a scientific testing method) using the exact instrumentation employed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic).
- Since July of 2022, the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC has been responsible for 5 product recalls (FDA and CPSC).
- All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable.
- Items that Lead Safe Mama, LLC reports on are tested multiple times to confirm the results published (for each component tested).
- Recent notable press… There has been too much to mention already in 2024! Please check out our press page to see some of the amazing coverage of our work so far this year!
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Advertising and affiliate income help Lead Safe Mama, LLC cover the costs of the work we do here (independent consumer goods testing and childhood Lead-poisoning prevention advocacy). We have removed ads from most of our more widely-read articles (like this one!) to make them easier for you to read. In addition to supporting this work by starting any shopping you might be doing with clicks on our affiliate links, if you would like to support the independent consumer goods testing and childhood Lead-poisoning prevention advocacy work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC by making a contribution (which will also help us keep our more widely-read articles ad-free), click here. Thank you!
To see more Corelle pieces that have been tested by Lead Safe Mama, LLC, click HERE.
This article (below) includes XRF test results for metals found in a vintage Corelle plate with the green Crazy Daisy/ Spring Blossom Green pattern along the edge of the food surface on the dish.
Before we get into the article about the dish pictured above,… for those of you looking for some safer (confirmed lead-free) dish options – here are a few (relatively inexpensive) choices to consider as well:
- Prices below are from April 4, 2024
- 18-piece service for 6: $53.57 (Made in USA) – https://amzn.to/43ieIYn
- 78-piece service for 12: $199.99 (Made in USA) – https://amzn.to/43aGEgV
- Set of 6 dinner plates: $38.74 (Made in France) – https://amzn.to/43aGUwp
- Set of 6 dinner plates: $17.49 (Made in Spain) – https://amzn.to/49pYhea
- You can also buy clear glass (unpainted, undecorated) dinner plates from the Dollar Store – and they are typically also Lead-free.
- The white glass plates from Target are also Lead-free (test results here)
- The white glass plates from Ikea are also Lead-free (test results here)
Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking one of Lead Safe Mama, LLC’s affiliate links, we may receive a percentage of what you spend (at no extra cost to you).
Published: November 19, 2018
Updated: December 2, 2019
How much Lead was found in the dish pictured here?
The green-painted decorative border of this Corelle plate was positive for a very high level of Lead. Based on stories my readers have shared with me (since first publishing this piece), the plates with this design were most likely manufactured around 1980 (the production run was c. 1970 to early 1990s). To see the full XRF readings for this exact plate, scroll down.
The particular dish pictured here tested positive for 15,200 ppm Lead in the painted decorations. For context: the amount of 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 or coating, and anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate. Dishes (both modern and vintage) are not considered items “intended for use by children,” and thus are not regulated for total XRF detectable Lead content in the same way as toys and other similar children’s items are (unless they are dishes expressly manufactured, marketed, and sold as baby dishes after 2010).
Tamara, what do you use to test dishes for Lead? Click HERE to learn more about that!
Why is it a problem that this dish is painted with a Leaded enamel paint?
As a mother of Lead-poisoned children and as an environmental activist, I have taken the stand that there is no place for Lead on our dining tables. None at all.
My son, who is now almost 15 years old, has a permanent brain injury from Lead poisoning at seven months old. It literally just takes a microscopic amount of Lead to poison a child (or any human, for that matter). As of the original publishing of this article in November 2018, there are NO other official groups (no scientific body, research institution, or non-profit organization) studying the potential impact that the daily use of Lead-painted vintage dishware has on its users. No one is studying this because no corporation has perceived any potential financial benefit from such a study. Consequently, 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. A 2017 study carried out in England examined potential health concerns created by the deterioration of Lead-painted decorative elements on glassware — you can read it at this link.
Aren’t dishes leach tested and determined to be “safe” at the time of manufacture? Why are you ignoring this long-held Federal standard?
Please note that XRF testing is distinctly different from leach testing. Leach testing is simply not enough — as demonstrated by the implementation of new standards for items intended for use by children that rely on total content testing, including screening goods using XRF technology. Current standards for newly manufactured dishware only call for leach testing, not total content testing, and only call for testing done at the time of initial manufacture. The fact of the matter is that over and over again, dishes with Lead-based glazes and paints have been demonstrated to leach Lead into the food served on those dishes … this just occurs with “normal use, as intended,” and can happen after years (or decades). There is no way for a consumer to know when the dishes begin leaching, and therefore, when they cease being safe. As a result, there is simply no defensible excuse for having Leaded dishes in your home, especially if you share your home with young children. Click here to read more about the concern.
For a pretty Lead-free and Cadmium-free option, Click HERE.*
Related: What should I do if my dishes are positive for high levels of Lead? Click HERE.
I took some of the photos against a white background cloth and others against green, to give you a better sense of the colors for this particular dish. Please continue reading below the images.
Reading #1)
Green Decorative Edge/Food Surface (image above):
- Lead (Pb): 15,200 +/- 400 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 108 +/- 12 ppm
- Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Arsenic (As): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Barium (Ba): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Chromium (Cr): 318 +/- 110 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Selenium (Se): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Zinc (Zn): 775 +/- 62 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 111 +/- 45 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 1,034 +/- 112 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 458 +/- 142 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Vanadium (V): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Titanium (Ti): 5,722 +/- 294 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 2,901 +/- 91 ppm
- Platinum (Pt): 266 +/- 96 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 1,163 +/- 134 ppm
Reading #2)
Plain White Center of Plate/Food Surface:
- Lead (Pb): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Arsenic (As): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Barium (Ba): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Chromium (Cr): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Selenium (Se): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Zinc (Zn): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Copper (Cu): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Nickel (Ni): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Iron (Fe): 491 +/- 141 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Vanadium (V): 99 +/- 27 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 137 +/- 35 ppm
Tests were done for at least 60 seconds each and repeated multiple times to confirm the levels. Test results are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Testing was done using a high-precision XRF analyzer — the same instrumentation and methodology used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to screen for the presence of unsafe levels of Lead in consumer goods manufactured and sold for use by children today. The XRF instrument used has a specific software package installed for testing consumer goods for the presence of Lead and other elemental metals.
In addition to Lead, this dish also read positive for the heavy metal Cadmium (at a much lower level than the amount of Lead found). To learn more about the concern for Cadmium (Cd), which is a known carcinogen, click HERE.
Please continue reading below the image.
Reading #3)
Logo Area, Back of Plate (image above):
- Lead (Pb): 95 +/- 20 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Arsenic (As): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Barium (Ba): 1,890 +/- 434 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Selenium (Se): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Zinc (Zn): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Copper (Cu): 63 +/- 38 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Iron (Fe): 275 +/- 86 ppm
- Indium (In): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Bismuth (Bi): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Vanadium (V): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Titanium (Ti): Non-Detect/ Negative
- Cobalt (Co): Non-Detect/ Negative
As always, please let me know if you have any questions. I will do my best to answer them personally as soon as I have a moment (which may be a while since I have disabled / Lead-poisoned kiddos underfoot most of the time, so please be patient if you post a question in the comments below!)
Thank you for reading and for sharing articles from LeadSafeMama.com / TamaraRubin.com!
Tamara Rubin
Owner – Lead Safe Mama, LLC
#LeadSafeMama
Links on this page may be Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of our affiliate links, Lead Safe Mama, LLC may receive a small percentage of what you spend at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
I have a whole set. Is corel taking these back?
It couldn’t hurt to ask them!!! 🙂
Per this post: https://tamararubin.com/2013/11/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
It would make you post much more palatable if you could contact Corning with your statistics, and have them answer if they have a re-call program out for their tableware. I would very much like to see them do a one for one dish exchange. I have a LOT of them that I use for parties, since I hate throw away paper plates. Thanks!
I worked st the corelle plant for 9 years. Trust me when I say. That’s an older plate and older design. Going back 30 or 40 years of course everything was testing high for lead. The newer paints are lead free. Stop the scare tactics just to push your agenda. This factory is part of a sleepy southern Tier town, and a main source of income.
Sharing XRF readings on specific dishes is “information” not “scare tactics” – I fully encourage and support folks buying Lead-free new Corelle! I love the stuff. As a mother of lead poisoned children I believe there is no place in our homes or kitchens (especially) for items with high levels of lead. Check out this post: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/dishes/
I challenge the person who posted the article originally to have the plate tested for themself. I don’t believe that the plate tested for lead. I would like to see the results myself as well.
I do the testing myself. I am trained and certified in using a scientific instrument (for field use), the same instrument used by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to find toxicants in consumer goods. The findings are accurate and replicable. Here’s my training certificate: https://tamararubin.com/2017/09/certificate/ – the results posted here ARE the exact results from my testing.
Yes, the plates are old. But I owned this plate until I saw Tamara’s post yesterday. My five year old daughter always wanted to eat on it because it had pretty flowers.
If Corelle knows that the old dishes had lead, they should publish that information.
I have been using these sense I got married 49 years got them as a wedding gift, now there going in the trash, is that why I had breast cancer and hubby got prostate problems
My family still uses these plates as we did when I was a kid. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it isn’t used. The owner of this site highly recommends a different style Corelle. What agenda do you think she has?
Safety and general knowledge. That seems like the agenda here!
Do with the information what you will-but I certainly won’t let my children eat off plates that have harmful chemicals! Just bc something was considered okay in the past doesn’t mean that it’s okay now!!
How anybody can see this as an attack rather than a warning too many people who still on these plates, I’ll never know. They used to think asbestos was safe to but now we know better. why would you not want to be made aware of something that could be potentially harmful?
You do realize that many many people still have their older Correlle dishes from 30 years ago, right? I have a couple of them from the mid 80’s. My grandmothers set from the early 80’s is still in the summer house (I won’t eat out them).
How is protecting children from lead poisoning an “agenda”?
People are selling collections of this set on eBay. I think this is a valid warning.
Thank you for commenting, Elisabeth.
Tamara
Thank you for you good works. I love and use mine , however I will no longer allow my granddaughter to lick her plate joyfully when she visits me on weekends for blueberry pancakes!
Doesn’t make me feel any better. I had this pattern and we ate off of it every day. My child was exposed to this his entire growing up years. Not to mention the cups and casserole dishes. Everybody needs to know this. People are still using this stuff and buying it. I don’t have this particular pattern any longer but I have other older patterns of Correlle which are going in the trash. I am shocked that the Government is allowing us to be poisoned like this and putting children at risk. Also if these companies keep doing this it is wrong and in bad faith.
Thank you for commenting Debra!
– Tamara
The government allows many toxic things to be in our food, personal care, products, electronics, medications, vaccines, etc. “FDA Approved” has become meaningless, if not a caution. 🙁
Is there a newer version of this pattern and how do I know when my set was manufactured?
I’m SO glad she shared this. I had been using this dishes until I saw this article.
i have plates with this design but the back description is different. i tried a contact lead test and it came back negative but i’m so nervous because of what people have posted and i don’t have a definitive answer
No they will take something back that old, just toss them.
Why would you consider using these plates knowing that they have terrible chemicals on them that can harm you and your family?!! Judy bc something was okay in the past doesn’t mean it’s okay now when we have knowledge of the harm that it can do! ♀️
I have used these plates 40 plus years. Should I throw them out and buy new Corelle dishes?
Maybe I can get cash back for new ones.
I would recommend throwing them out. I personally would not use them in my home (even though they haven’t specifically been proven to cause harm – since no one is studying the potential harm caused in vintage dishes.) Check out this post https://tamararubin.com/2013/11/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/ and this post https://tamararubin.com/2017/11/decorated-glassware/ – hopefully they will help you make your decision.
– Tamara
I would follow with additional testing designed to determine what actually would leach into food under normal conditions.
I am also wary of your credentials as you will profit slightly from people accessing the links you post. Please provide more accurate and scientific testing provided by a third party laboratory. This information is most important. In the scientific world, third party testing by an unrelated, not to benefit from the results organization would substantiate or disprove the results obtained by your method.
By throwing the plates out, you are adding to the landfill issues we have in this country. I kindly request more analytical information.
Hi Amy!
In your note above you said “I would follow with additional testing designed to determine what actually would leach into food under normal conditions..”
I would love it if you would follow up with leach testing and let us know what the results are. Thank you.
Here is more information about what I do: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
Here is a copy of my certificate:https://tamararubin.com/2017/09/certificate/
Here is a post with more information about the instrument I use: https://tamararubin.com/xrf/
Tamara
Amy,
P.S. here is my post about tossing or not tossing: https://tamararubin.com/2013/11/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
I think returning to the company and asking for a non-toxic replacement or a refund is a much better option!
Tamara
All Corelle® stoneware products and glazes are made of clay-based materials and glazes used throughout the industry. Decorations, if present, are made from low-lead enamels and fired at temperatures exceeding 1000 degrees F, which binds any heavy metals both physically and chemically so that their release is minimized.
This comes from theCorelle website.
Hi Amy,
That’s likely a statement about their modern products, not their vintage products. Take a look at this post for a little more information: https://tamararubin.com/2018/12/vintage-1972-1988-corning-ware-spice-o-life-casserole-26500-ppm-lead-236-ppm-cadmium-textbook-response-from-corningware-today/
Tamara
Tamara – you seem like a bitch. Get a real job
Becky, why do you say that? Because you have these dishes and you are angry that they are positive for Lead?
– Tamara
How does protecting children and giving people knowledge make her a bitch?
Why does this make you so angry? Why are you afraid of knowledge? Maybe you should see a therapist for that.
She is a wife, a mother of lead poisoned children and a trained advocate for lead free households. That IS her job. We tell people everyday to do what they love and follow their passion. Tamara’s passion is protecting children and teaching others. The only problem with her job is she doesn’t get paid enough.
*Love*
*Crying*
Thank you.
I am sorry that you are uneducated and feel the need to bash such a wonderful person who does wonderful work.
Ooh Becky you seem to not have a clue. Sheep much?
Maybe you have been lead poisoned.
Becky- you seem like a troll. Get off the internet. This is information. Do what you want with it. This women is hardly making money off this work, as evidenced by the fact that her family is about to be homeless, AGAIN. jeez.
I have the crazy daisy pattern of Corelle dishes that my grandmother purchased in the 80s as well as I can guess. However, mine has a different stamp on the back that looks more recent than yours. Have you done testing on the more recent dishes?
Hi Jenny,
I haven’t tested too many recent ones, sorry about that.
Tamara
My children have been eating off these plates since birth. The oldest is 14 now. As you can imagine, I am horrified. Is it possible that the lead and cadmium do not leach? That is a hope I am clinging to. Of course I’m throwing them out, but I’m hoping it’s possible that despite using these plates, my kids did not ingest lots of lead and cadmium because maybe these metals, although present in high amounts, did not leech out. Is this possible? Also, we microwave food on these plates. Does microwaving these plates increase lead and cadmium leeching?
Hi Terri,
It is possible that the Lead and Cadmium do not leach, however I don’t advise coming to that conclusion with guess work. In the absence of laboratory testing of high lead dishes I think the safer choice is to not use them.
I think the manufacturers of these products should do leach testing on their vintage dishware (using an independent lab) and if they leach they should inform the public – but I don’t think that is ever going to happen. I also think that even if they did not leach at one point, they may leach at some point in the future – especially with wear, heavy use and deterioration. Here’s a post I have written about that: https://tamararubin.com/topics/does-vintage-and-new-functional-pottery-and-dishware-have-unsafe-levels-of-lead/
This is why the simplest solution is to buy lead-free dishes and emphasize food-based detox with your family (garlic, cilantro – etc.)
Here’s a link to a very inexpensive set of Lead-free dishes: https://tamararubin.com/2018/10/toppic-lead-free-dish-set-service-for-four-for-under-43/
You can also check out Ikea, Walmart and Target for their clear glass options and other lead-free options available at those stores (use the search bar on this blog or the Index in the header to look for Lead-free dishes or to look for products sold by those stores by store name.) You can also check out this link with links to many of the Lead-free dishes I have tested: https://tamararubin.com/2018/12/asktamara-which-dishes-are-lead-free/
Tamara
Can you recommend a good home lead test kit? I am thinking that this would be the best way to determine if the lead leeches. Am I correct? And are there any home cadmium test kits available?
Hi Terri,
Most home test kits will not detect lead in dishes, please read this post about that: https://tamararubin.com/2017/02/leadcheck-dishware/
That said the best kit for testing for Lead at home (not all dishes though) is the LeadCheck Swab and I discuss that here: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
Here’s an Amazon affiliate link for that product too: https://amzn.to/2M2pcUp, I am fairly certain these dishes will not test positive with a LeadCheck swab – although many vintage items will test positive with a LeadCheck Swab – here’s a 4-minute video where I do that: https://tamararubin.com/2018/06/testing-vintage-glassware-pyrex-libbey-with-a-leadcheck-swab-video/
Additionally there is not a good way to test for leaching at home, it really cannot be done. Leach testing needs to be done at a Lab unfortunately, and can be very costly – which is why I recommend sticking with lead free dishes to begin with (one you learn your dishes have lead) as the cost of replacing your dishes with lead-free dishes is probably significantly cheaper than leach testing your dishes at an appropriate lab.
Tamara
P.S. There is not a reliable inexpensive home test to test for Cadmium.
Is there perhaps a reliable expensive home test to test for cadmium? I’m willing to pay more (within reason) if need be.
Hi Terri,
Not that I am aware of. Here’s information about sending stuff to me for testing (if that is of interest): https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/
T
My children have been eating off these plates since birth. The oldest is 14 now. As you can imagine, I am horrified. Is it possible that the lead and cadmium do not leach? That is a hope I am clinging to. Of course I’m throwing them out, but I’m hoping it’s possible that despite using these plates, my kids did not ingest lots of lead and cadmium because maybe these metals, although present in high amounts, did not leech out. Is this possible? Also, we microwave food on these plates. Does microwaving these plates increase lead and cadmium leeching?
Can you recommend a good home lead test kit? I am thinking that this would be the best way to determine if the lead leeches. Am I correct? And are there any home cadmium test kits available?
Sorry about my repeat post above. I posted it because I did not see my original posts appear. They appeared many hours after I posted them.
No problem! Thanks.
Hi Tamara,
Thank you very much for your replies to my questions. The links you provided are very helpful. Another question: do you know if microwaving these plates would increase the leaching of lead and cadmium from the plates? We have been microwaving food on these plates for many many years.
Hi Terri,
I think any heating with acidic foods could be a problem (tomato sauce and similar).
T
I remember years ago people worrying about lead crystal glassware + tableware and then reading an article proving that the food would need to be stored in it for a very long time (i.e. years) to absorb any of the lead from the glass.
I’m sorry but her claims are unproven, nothing has been proven regarding leaching into foods. Her ‘tests’ are performed in her kitchen, which is not a sterile environment. She is a blogger, of which there are a dime a dozen. When people make these type of alarmist claims, it would be best to go by the wise old adage: “Don’t believe everything you hear and only half of what you see”. If this was indeed a true scientific fact, the population would have been made well aware of the dangers by now from reputable scientific laboratories.
I would fact check all her ‘chicken little, sky-is-falling’ claims, before I swallow them hook, line and sinker. So I did…
Here’s one common source out of many for checking anyone’s claims:
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/vintage-pyrex-contains-unsafe-levels-of-lead/?fbclid=IwAR0ltLL-ON0txOpp7i9EQOjwdC-HX0Zi0nHviieRZJHG9yRafZcmyOnJZ5c
Here’s a link to a post about crystal. There is a linked scientific study in the post that shows that the lead is detectable at unsafe levels within an hour, which means it builds up to that level over the course of that hour (because it starts leaching right away.) https://tamararubin.com/topics/crystal/
I am making no claims in this post about leaching, only about total lead content as detectable with an XRF instrument – which is a different form of measuring lead, and the methodology used to determine if toys are safe for children (a testing methodology which I feel should also be used with dishes and all kitchenware, as there is no place for lead in our kitchens). For context you may want to read this post:https://tamararubin.com/topics/does-vintage-and-new-functional-pottery-and-dishware-have-unsafe-levels-of-lead/
The very funny thing about Snopes is that they have used me as a RESOURCE (confirming findings) for TWO articles and also tried to discredit my work with a third article. Here is my response to that original Snopes article: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/snope/
If you look to popular media to verify the work of folks, please check out this piece that CBS This Morning (with Charlie Rose) did on my work finding Lead in Fidget Spinners: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fidget-spinners-high-levels-of-lead-consumer-advocacy-organization-report/
Tamara
I did check multiple sites and got several hits on the lead in dishes, it was confirmed they do, but if were you I would not worry just go ahead and use them.
Oh my….my grandparents had these exact dishes….i thought i might try to find a set of these but now i won’t. Thanks for the heads up about the lead content!
My grandma has had these dishes since the 70s. My mom and her siblings ate from them for most of their childhoods. My mom got their olde town blue pattern in the early ‘80s and my sister and I are from them and still eat from them when we visit. My kids eat from them now. This is interesting information but I’m not worried.
I have been using these as my daily dishes for about 5 years. I grew up with them and love the nostalgia. Lead never even occurred to me as a concern. I read this article and bought some lead free white corelle instead. I will keep a set of daisies for display and switch to safe dishes for eating! Thank you on behalf of my family and I!!! I really had no idea!
Hi Jen! Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your story!
– Tamara
1. What year did Corelle change the paint/ink on their products?
2. How can we test our dishes/cookware?
3. What other companies products have been tested?
4. What are those results?
Hi Lori Ann!
1. No idea – likely somewhere around 2010, possibly later
2. There are several posts about that – heres one) https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/ and two) https://tamararubin.com/2017/02/ask-tamara-q-can-i-test-my-dishes-for-lead-with-a-leadcheck-swab-a-sometimes-but-not-always-click-to-read-more/
3. there are over 2,000 blog posts here on my site. Just enter the company name or product keywords in to the search bar and you may see examples from that company that I have tested
4. In answer #4 above
Thank you for commenting!
Tamara
While it might be true that there is lead in the paint, I ate off these plates every day of my growing up life and my mom still uses them. Fortunately food and silverware hardly ever hits the painted area. But I will tell her about this since her grandchildren eat from them. All the other items in this collection have the paint on the outside of the dish, thereby reducing the exposure.
Hi Audrey,
Corelle also advices to not use these dishes. https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/breaking-news-12-26-19-corelle-recommends-using-their-pre-2005-dishes-only-as-decorative-pieces-due-to-concerns-for-high-levels-of-lead/
Here is a post explaining the risk, even if the Lead is only on the outside of the plate: https://tamararubin.com/2020/07/if-the-lead-is-only-on-the-outside-of-my-dish-measuring-cup-mixing-bowl-etc-why-does-it-matter-that-it-has-lead/
This is also a great post about why Lead in dishes is concerning: https://tamararubin.com/topics/does-vintage-and-new-functional-pottery-and-dishware-have-unsafe-levels-of-lead/
Oh my goodness. I can’t believe I just saw this post. My Grandma had these dishes that we all ate off of growing up, and when she passed away 9 years ago, I took them to my house. My family has been eating off of them for the last 9 years. Should we all be tested for lead?? I’ve lost my last 3 pregnancies without determined cause…now I’m wondering if this could be related. Wow….
Hey Kay,
It’s not a bad idea…
Also, this is a great place to start if you have questions or need advice:
https://tamararubin.com/2022/05/start-here/
Take Care!
I have the vintage set Corelle silk and roses – it is pictured on this site. Have you tested this set for lead and other chemicals? Thank you for what you do!
Hi – I don’t know all of the pattern names unfortunately but any of their patterns that are more than 20 years old are likely to test positive for high levels of lead in the decorative / colorful elements.
Tamara
Been eating off this set for 48 yrs. Should I ask my doctor to run a lead level? I certainly don’t feel like I’m lead poisoned. My grandparents lived to their upper 80s using similar correlleware. My parents are in their mid 70s using similar. None of us have or had symptoms of lead poisoning. Sorry your children are lead poisoned but humans are shown to now have levels of glyphosate, PVC, and micro plastics. How about Teflon–that stuff is deadly. Then there’s concentrated processed foods, and food dyes, preservatives, PUFAs, artificial sweeteners, things in your food that are simply a chemical acronym, all FDA approved (I can keep going)! Are you sure these plates should be our biggest concern?
I appreciate the knowledge but let’s put this in perspective…
I’m still far more concerned with what’s ON the plate, than what’s IN the plate!
Hi Andrew. It’s really a #KnowBetterDoBetter scenario. Please read these additional posts for context:
1. https://tamararubin.com/topics/does-vintage-and-new-functional-pottery-and-dishware-have-unsafe-levels-of-lead/
2. https://tamararubin.com/2021/06/but-is-this-dish-or-toy-or-lamp-or-vitamin-or-piece-of-jewelry-or-tibetan-brass-singing-bowl-actually-going-to-poison-me-and-how-would-that-happen-exactly/
3. https://tamararubin.com/2020/05/i-dont-do-what-i-do-to-spread-fear-i-do-what-i-do-to-educate-so-you-can-make-informed-choices-for-your-family/
4. https://tamararubin.com/2015/02/fine/
Tamara
I have the casserole dish and lid with this pattern, do you know if that has high levels of lead too?
Hi ZR-
Yes, the casserole dishes also contain high levels of Lead. Here is the category link to the “Crazy Daisy” pattern: https://tamararubin.com/category/crazy-daisy/
Also, here is Tamara’s advice if you choose to not use them: https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
I am curious how much food actually sits on the painted edge? Have you tested that?
I have Corelle Spring Blossom. It was my mother in laws and we have used it for many years.
The white area shows wear, but not the green painted area. We don’t put the food on the edges of the plate where the paint is.
I have a whole set of green daisy and some pyrex pieces with the green daisy are the pyrex no good either? I also have some Country Cottage and Corelle suggests to buy dishes made after 2005 But really they do not explain how to tell the age of the plate. Do you know? I think Corelles’ statement as to older dishes ” Use them for decoration” is so sad, I know the lead limits back in the day were different, but here we are loyal customers to Corelle and this is all they can say….
Sadly, I am late to finding this. My brother ran across it today and I’ve eaten off this dish set for 40+ years since I was old enough to use a plate or bowl. Thankfully, the vast majority of that was in the center where your test didn’t detect lead, but I cook with tomato all the time and I already know that leeches lead. Due to breakage and younger brothers growing into the age of needing dishes, we got a blue flower pattern sometime in the early 90s of those cheap boxed table sets Walmart sold. I couldn’t find them anywhere and they’re awful (warped, the ugly color pattern matches food I’m trying to scrub off, and they’re extremely fragile), so I’m probably just going to use the excuse to throw them out too.
Thank you for your hard work testing these and sharing your findings.
Thank you for commenting!
OMG… I just saw all of this about an hour ago. I was running a load of dishes in the dishwasher, waiting to take out the bowl with the crazy green daisy pattern on the outside that my little mini schnauzer female eats from!!! Christ! When her dog bowl broke a few years ago, I thought it would be safe to feed her from the small, white Corelle bowl. Corelle has been a part of my life for decades! Mom had this “crazy daisy” pattern, followed by the set which looked the same but had gold paint on the border. Later, she had the cream/beige colored set with a border in blue and pink. Dad used those after mom died in 2006. In 2019 at 86 yrs old, he got weak and was not eating and fell in his home, which ended with him dying in the hospital five months later. It was rather odd, because his death was attributed mainly to “failure to thrive-adult”. Corelle has been a trusted product, and when I foolishly married at 21, I received lots of the stuff. I still love (and use) my smoke colored casserole dish with its beautiful brass(?) holder, painted beautifully, and another casserole dish that is solid white, and kind of oval. I can’t believe corporate greed and lack of ethics generally in this day and age. I’m more concerned about my little dog than I am about myself, because even though the inside of “her bowl” is white, it’s discolored at the bottom by a ring of silver/gray that I thought was caused by my wetting and mashing up her dog food with a fork (she has only 4 fangs, lol). Poor baby, fed in a bowl by her own mama that could kill her. I wonder if anybody else out there feeds their animals from bowls like this one? I can’t be the only one! I feel pretty sick right now. I believe you are doing a great thing for others by warning them. I believe in advocacy, protest, etc….without those things no positive change would ever occur. So, thanks for your work. I hope your son is well, and that your entire family is safe and happy. I strayed in here after using Google for the hundredth or so time today just to check and see if that ring at the bottom of my dog’s bowl could possibly be dangerous to her. I won’t be using the Corelle anymore, but I can’t afford any dishes because I really can’t even afford rent atm. Lol. Now I have more research to do, because my only other dishes to eat from are a few china plates that I have to look up to check on. I do have a question though. Do you think it’s fairly safe to use the smoke colored and the solid white casserole dishes? Strange timing, because I also have a tiny sautee pan with, I believe, the Meadow pattern that I have been admiring lately and put into use for browning butter for cookies and cooking eggs. I love that little dish. It is solid white inside, but it got a few tiny scratches from my metal whisk. Scary world!
Hello! Thank you for commenting! The plain white Corning and Corelle are generally safe. The marks on the inside of your dish are likely from the utensil used, not an indicator of Lead, You can get a clear glass or stainless bowl for your dog at one of the dollar store type stores – just avoid any with painted markings or silicone. Plain undecorated glass is safer than stainless steel – here’s an article about the concerns with Stainless Steel (which are not an issue for everyone but for some): https://tamararubin.com/2022/08/why-do-some-stainless-steel-cookware-items-have-a-prop-65-warning-isnt-stainless-steel-non-toxic/
This is the menu for the website – which might be a good place to explore from:
https://tamararubin.com/website-menu/
This video also shows how to search the website:
Tamara Rubin.
Hi Tamara! Would you be able to take a look at Corelle “April Yellow Flowers” dish set ? Those are the ones I grew up with (and still have!)
Those are also high lead.
oh wow, really? do you have a page on that one specifically, or any other source for it? wanna show it to my family so we can retire these plates
I don’t have a post for that design specifically – but this one is close:
https://tamararubin.com/2022/04/vintage-corelle-meadow-dish-positive-for-four-poisons-lead-cadmium-mercury-antimony-on-the-food-surface-including-16700-ppm-lead-90-ppm-up-is-unsafe-for-kids/
T
I had these dishes but got rid of them after seeing this. I am finding it overwhelming in what to do to rid my home of lead and toxic. I just bought new glass canisters and mugs at IKEA to get rid of my vintage Tupperware ones. I had the green and yellow. I have no idea about my mixing bowls they were brought around 2005-2007. I saved a bunch of my old fisher price toys and bought some in antique malls for my kids to play with ones I did but now they are on way out. How do we find out about our water bottles, jewelry and make up. No idea where to start !?! I try and browse the site but find it difficult. oh don’t know what the next step is. Thank you for all you do!
Have you checked out the website menu yet – you can use that to search different categories of items, or put a few keywords in the search bar at the top of any page of the site and look through the results – like “vintage jewelry” or “gold jewelry” or “sterling silver” or “faux pearls” – here’s the menu link: https://tamararubin.com/website-menu/
Thank you so much for the information. Would the plate in question still have contamination issues if the decorative edging has faded and is no longer visible, or can be felt on the plate?
Even more so
Okay, I bought these plates for my mother back in the early seventies. After she passed away I kept them for myself. If these plates are so hazardous Tamara, why don’t you work with the government agency to have them banned and request a recall from Corelle? People like yourself who claim they are experts and start the Chicken Little “the sky is falling” Hysteria without true scientific research should be arrested and put away for the rest of your life.
Hello Walloe,
I have been working to try to get Corelle to address the issue for years – and they have made several public statements acknowledging the lead in their products – I will put those articles at the bottom of this comment.
As a vintage product – they are not regulated and the manufacturer is not required to recall them.
I am an expert and do trainings for doctors, nurses and educators. Lead Safe Mama, LLC is also partnering with Consumer Reports Magazine on some projects.
I am sorry you are so angry that you can’t see the science for what it is. There is no “sky is falling” there is no “hysteria” – there is just “toss these dishes in the trash” (very simple – make sure they break so that no one can use them in the future) and buy some new clear glass ones at the Dollar Store (choose ones with no painted markings to make sure they are Lead-free) for $1 or $1.50 each.
Lead exposure causes symptoms you seem to be exhibiting so you may want to be checked by your doctor: irrational thought, impulse control issues (lack of impulse control), frontal lobe impairments, aggression, misdirected anger, inability to think straight – and more.
Here’s an article that discusses symptoms in adults: https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
I would consider getting a blood lead test or a urine test if I were you (based on the symptoms demonstrated by your comment). Here’s an article about Blood Lead Testing:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/02/blood-lead-testing-please-get-everyone-in-the-family-tested-since-you-have-been-living-in-a-house-with-high-lead-paint/
Here’s an article about Urine testing:
https://tamararubin.com/2020/05/i-heard-that-urine-and-hair-tests-for-heavy-metals-including-lead-were-not-real-or-useful-test-results-why-is-this/
Tamara
Here’s an article with an early statement by Corelle (acknowledging the Lead in their vintage dishes):
https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/breaking-news-12-26-19-corelle-recommends-using-their-pre-2005-dishes-only-as-decorative-pieces-due-to-concerns-for-high-levels-of-lead/
Here’s a second Corelle Statement (acknowledging – but downplaying – the issue … as most companies do):
https://tamararubin.com/2022/08/breaking-news-august-2022-corelle-instant-brands-confirms-but-downplays-the-presence-of-leaded-glaze-used-for-the-food-surface-decorations-of-their-vintage-dishware/
Thank you so much for this information. My father who has had OCD regarding lead for many decades also thanks you. We have a couple of those old dishes but with the blue floral design on outer edge. The back stamp/label was the same as the one you took a photo of. Thank you for this! We have thrown them out. We normally eat off of the newer all white corelle dishes any way. Phew!
I have a cereal bowl with the green daisy design on the exterior of the bowl, not on the surface that would be in contact with food. I assume that this would be safe as the white material does not contain high levels of heavy metals.