“Crazy Korean Cooking” Premium Korean Dolsot Stone Bowl: *Lead-free, as advertised* (Rare!)

Scroll down below the images to see the full XRF test results.

Crazy Korean Cooking Ceramic Bowl

This Korean ceramic cooking bowl is Lead-Free (as advertised on their packaging). It is not, however, technically entirely Cadmium-Free — as there are traces of Cadmium – in the red part of the logo (on the underside of the bowl). This is a relatively small matter, of course, and is quite common in modern products, in two respects:

1. It is common for modern products to advertise their product as “Lead-Free” and/or “Cadmium-Free” — yet not think to check the Lead and Cadmium composition of the permanent markings on their branding and logo.
2. It is also common for any red glazed elements on a fired ceramic item (including logos and any red-colored components) to test positive for at least a low level of Cadmium [and sometimes – though not in the case of this product – for a very high level of Cadmium].

I will try to make sure the company sees this post (to the best of my ability) and, as it is an easy thing for them to fix, I think they will likely address the issue (either changing the formulation for the red part of their logo or changing the color of the red part of their logo.) I will update you (my readers) with any additional information (including a response from the company) if I do hear from them.

Note: All test results that are reported here on this blog are science-based, replicable and accurate. Each component is tested multiple times to confirm the results reported. Testing is done for a minimum of 60 seconds for each test (unless otherwise noted). 

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Introduction – for those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multi-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific method used by the Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for contaminants including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony and Arsenic.

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When tested with a high-precision XRF Instrument, the bowl pictured here had the following readings:

Interior food surface

• Bismuth (Bi): 99 +/- 23 ppm
• Barium (Ba): 453 +/- 56 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 7,187 +/- 340 ppm
• Nickel (Ni): 2,341 +/- 211 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 23,600 +/- 1,100 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 7,360 +/- 391 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 1,746 +/- 133 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3,799 +/- 253 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 1,074 +/- 274 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): 1,028 +/- 443 ppm

Continue reading below the image.

White part of logo on bottom

• Barium (Ba): 584 +/- 49 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 5,077 +/- 265 ppm
• Zirconium (Zr): 4,051+/- 123 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): 116 +/- 21 ppm
• Platinium (Pt): 218 +/- 75 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 6,546 +/- 248 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 242 +/- 55 ppm
• Nickel (Ni): 2,204 +/- 162 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 1,391 +/- 218 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 21,200 +/- 800 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): 1,478 +/- 355 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 1,582 +/- 137 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3,233 +/- 237

Red part of logo on bottom

• Cadmium (Cd): 116 +/- 11 ppm
• Barium (Ba): 674 +/- 52 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 6,188 +/- 317 ppm
• Zirconium (Zr): 3,268 +/- 103 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): 125 +/- 21 ppm
• Platinium (Pt): 157 +/- 76 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 7,239 +/- 273 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 188 +/- 54 ppm
• Nickel (Ni): 2,346 +/- 169 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 1,288 +/- 222 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 22,900 +/- 900 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): 1,651 +/- 374 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 1,915 +/- 156 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3,826 +/- 270
• Second reading: 107 +/- 10 ppm Cadmium

Continue reading below the image.

Bare unglazed ceramic rim on bottom

• Chromium (Cr): 816 +/- 97 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): 192 +/- 20 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 301 +/- 37 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 10,600 +/- 500 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 164 +/- 63 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 2,454 +/- 193

Black plastic trivet / lid:

• Zinc (Zn): 1,394 +/- 45 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 279 +/ 46 pm
• Titanium (Ti): 443 +/- 42 ppm
• no other metals detected

Because this has trace levels of Cadmium in the exterior paint (which is a heated surface of the bowl) I would choose to not use this product in my home. If they had a truly Cadmium-free version I would definitely be interested in using this product in my home.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama

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Additional images below.