Originally published: December 28, 2018, 4:34 p.m.
Format refreshed: Dec 28, 2019
In response to my original post referenced in the title above [Link HERE] today, Corningware shared the following response (when Sabrina – a friend of a friend on Facebook – shared the post and tagged them):
“We appreciate you [sic] concern for our products, Sabrina! We can assure you that older Corningware items would have met all of the safety requirements that applied at the time they were made.”
This response actually has me nearly literally rolling on the floor laughing my ass off.
THERE WERE NO RELEVANT SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR LEAD [especially total Lead content as detectable with an XRF instrument!] in 1972 AT THE TIME THESE WERE MADE!!!! There are “leach testing standards” (which may or may not have been in place depending on the year of manufacture of a vintage item), but the leach testing standards are not strict enough (they don’t take in to account what happens to a Leaded piece after years [or decades] of regular use and normal wear when used as intended) and, as I understand it, Leach testing standards have never applied to any decorative elements on the exterior of a piece of cookware or dishware. [You can read more about this concern here.]
This is ALWAYS how these companies (including Pyrex) respond!
It’s so incredibly textbook!
These companies REFUSE to take responsibility for their past actions and choose instead to use language that sidesteps the concerns in an effort to deny culpability through doublespeak that makes it seem like the allegations that there is Lead in their vintage products is somehow untrue.
I’m so excited to have actually captured (in screenshots) such a public and blatant display of this level of corporate bullshit.
Thanks to Sabrina (and Denise) for sharing my post (and all of the other people who have shared it too!)
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Here it is as shown on the share thread:
this is what I got about pyrex measuring cups today
I screen shot and can’t paste.
pyrex. :current standards California Proposition 65
Me: so your current painted markings are lead free. How far back do your new standards go?
pyrex: 1982
Pyrex: yes, they are a silicone based lead free paint
Are they telling the truth? partial truth? Are the new ones OK?
Tamara,
I replied to Flora’s post on her Facebook page the following:
Damn! Guess I’ve got to purge my cabinets. I grew up with that stuff. Flora, I’ve got the remainder of that set.The numbers seem to be wildly high, 26,500 ppm = 26.5 ppt, = 0.265 pph, = 0.265%. Do I have my math right?
If this relatively huge number is correct then the manufacturer seems to have added it purposefully and it is not just a random contamination? How many of these casseroles were sampled to check for variability in batches and so forth? A lot of these casseroles were produced. I’m waiting for the verdict on Corelle Ware.
Keep up the good work,
Richard
Thank you!
At this level the lead is definitely an additive and not a contaminant.
Are the contaminants in the design or the entire piece?
Hi Judy,
With these particular casserole dishes, the toxicants (Lead, cadmium, etc.) are generally found in the exterior decorative elements.
Tamara
Have you ever tested Pfaltzcraft products?
I have a pattern from the 1990’s that we use for every day. Thanks for all your hard work!
Hi Kim,
I have tested a few Pfaltzgraff pieces, but not many. You can see all of them here (click the link and scroll down): https://tamararubin.com/category/pfaltzgraff/
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
I am curious about the spice of life pattern. Is the lead in the exterior decoration or in the interior white glaze? Either way, what are the health ramifications?
I have lots of French white Corning Ware that I have had for years. It is all white. Is that still safe to use?
I also have green glass plates that I love. Would glass not be a problem?
The all white is generally fine as long as it is glass Corning or Corelle products. Green glass can go either way. Here’s the “Green Glass” category on the blog: https://tamararubin.com/category/green-glass/
Tamara
How about Anchor Hocking glass storage containers? Did you ever test them?
Hi Patrice,
Thank you for commenting.
There are several posts discussing Anchor Hocking brand products here on the blog. Here’s a link to the “Anchor Hocking” category to start: https://tamararubin.com/category/anchor-hocking/
Please let me know if you have additional questions after checking out those posts. Thanks!
Tamara
Calloway pattern—is there lead concerns?
Can you provide a link with the image of the pattern, Mary? Thanks! – Tamara
Are the sandstone beige corelle dishes high in lead?
Hi, Tamara. Have you tested the new Corningware pyroceram casserole dishes yet? I’ve considered purchasing the plain white ones for quite some time, but I want to be sure that they’re safe before I dish out $100 for a set.
In case anyone else was wondering, I posted a question on the product page for the new Corningware pyroceram dishes asking if they contained any heavy metals since the vintage dishes have tested positive. They deleted my question with no explanation. I don’t know if these do contain any heavy metals or if they just don’t want people asking questions that might discourage customers from making a purchase, but it seems pretty shady to me.
Are the results that you post from testing the inside or outside of a bowl. Thank you.
I am very interested I have a lot of corning ware my eating dishes are all white.
But I have a lot of casseroles and kettles of their with blue cornflower print on outside. Is the glaze inside lead free? Please reply thank you.
What about English Meadow????
I have recently. purchased several white Mikasa coffee cups from Home Goods. They say Bone China. Do these contain lead? Patterns: Abby, Trellis.
Also I have Corelle all white pattern Enchantment luncheon plates. Does it contain lead. It is at least 10 years old.
Thank you so much for your time.
I am deciding between the Corningware fench white stoneware and the pyroceramic blue cornflower. Do any of othese test positive for heavy metals? Which bakeware is safer? I read a small amount of lead and cadmium is permitted in stoneware. Is this true? Thank you.
Hi Bonnie – the new blue cornflower ones will likely be Lead-free. The French white (new) can either be Lead-free or low lead (safe range). Vintage pieces in the French white can be high Lead.
T
The vintage French White is Pyroceram. The pieces are all white. Have you ever tested these pieces? I have many pieces from the 80’s and 90’s. Thanks!
The plain white glass (Pyroceram) pieces from this company tend to be Lead-free:
Here’s one example: https://tamararubin.com/2018/01/new_casserole/
Tamara
Hi Tamara!
Thank you for all of the wonderful work you do!
To “drill down” on the French White pyroceram questions- You advised Bonnie (question above) That vintage French White tested high for lead. You then answered Sandra who asked about her vintage French white that plain white glass ( pyroceram) tend to be lead free.
Because the answers above differ, I am unsure about vintage pyroceram in the French White pattern.
My question: Is the Vintage French White pyroceram from the 80’s and 90’s (an all white ribbed pattern with no colored designs and identical visually to the new casserole in your link above) low lead or lead free? Has this pyroceram tested positive for other harmful elements?
I love my old French White pyroceram, and have my fingers crossed that I can continue to use it.
BTW, thanks to you, I have switched over to Corelle Winter Frost dishware and love it! It looked beautiful on my holiday table. I just added color through linens and floral arrangements rather than through dishware.
Hi Tucker!
So the white CERAMIC pieces can be high lead and the white glass pieces are generally Lead-free as long as they have no decorative elements. Does that clarify things? They appear to have made these types of casserole dishes (with the ribbed sides) in both ceramic and glass (using identical or nearly identical molds.) To Note: I have tested some of the new (made in the past five years) ceramic ones that have been very high for lead actually (they make these soup mugs that resemble the casserole dishes and I always recommend avoiding those as well.)
Yay for your holiday table (that’s they way it’s supposed to be :-))
Tamara
I do have meadow pieces and a few of casserole pieces. I also inherited from my husband the plain white with 2 black lines around, don’t know if these are effected. So even bowls of meadow are no good? Corelle should make good on these pieces I have to throw away, at lest some discount!
I am reading all these comments and am so disappointed. My elderly parents have one of the most toxic lead dishes (gold leaf trim) and are now needing replacement.
My children also have dishes that need replacing. As do I.
It is unfortunate Corelle has no responsibility to assist their customers.