Brass components of Finex cast iron pans test positive for 30,000 ppm Lead. For context, 90 ppm Lead (& up) is unsafe for kids.
May 19, 2021 – Wednesday
To read the full post about the concerns for Lead in Finex cookware, click here.
How much Lead is “too much” Lead?
For context, the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in an item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, glaze or coating of an item or anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate. Unfortunately (as discussed in most posts on this website) there is no law limiting total (XRF-detectable) Lead content in cookware (or really in any consumer goods not expressly “intended for use by children”.)
Cookware is required to not LEACH Lead (within certain limits) from within a vessel at the time of manufacture (you can read more about that here)– but no Federal agency looks for (or regulates) Lead in other components of cookware [even though you might frequently touch those components with your bare hands during the process of preparing and cooking food]. So while 40,000 ppm Lead in a knob of a cooking pan is not in any way illegal, in my opinion it is (at best) unethical.
What are the specific XRF Test results for a Finex pan?
Below are the exact XRF Test results for the pan pictured. Each test result set is replicable, science-based and accurate. Test results reported below are for 30 to 60 second tests, repeated multiple times to confirm the results.
PLEASE CONTINUE READING BELOW THE IMAGES & TEST RESULT SETS.
Component #1.) Yellow brass top knob of the lid of the pan pictured
Component #1.) Yellow brass top knob of the lid of the pan pictured- Lead (Pb): 30,000 +/- 1,000 ppm
- Silver (Ag): 283 +/- 72 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 7,291 +/- 330 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 377,700 +/- 2,800 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 573,000 +/- 3,300 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 4,997 +/ 356 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 4,869 +/- 413 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 583 +/- 281 ppm
PLEASE CONTINUE READING BELOW THE IMAGES & TEST RESULT SETS.Component #2.) Yellow brass end cap of handle of the pan pictured
Component #2.) Yellow brass end cap of handle of the pan pictured- Lead (Pb): 27,400 +/- 800 ppm
- Silver (Ag): 95 +/- 40 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 1,689 +/- 144 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 360,200 +/- 2,200 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 607,500 +/- 2,600 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 907 +/ 179 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 1,496 +/- 218 ppm
PLEASE CONTINUE READING BELOW THE IMAGES & TEST RESULT SETS.Component #3.) Main iron of the pan pictured (interior food surface)
Component #3.) Main iron of the pan pictured (interior food surface)- Chromium (Cr): 1,733 +/- 351 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 207 +/- 53 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 2,418 +/- 296 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 987,900 +/- 1,400 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 4,416 +/- 443 ppm
PLEASE CONTINUE READING BELOW THE IMAGES & TEST RESULT SETS.Component #4.) Silver colored spiral handle of the pan pictured
304 Stainless Steel (no Lead)
Component #4.) Silver colored spiral handle of the pan pictured- Chromium (Cr): 176,400 +/- 1,600 ppm
- Molybdenum (Mo): 3,590 +/- 173 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 4,195 +/- 533 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 83,400 +/- 1,700 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 716,900 +/- 2,800 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 11,200 +/- 1,200 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 1,295 +/- 468 ppm
As always, thank you for reading and sharing my posts. To see posts with more cast iron pans I have tested (and specifically cast iron pans that do not have Leaded components) please click here.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama 
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Hi, Tamara!
Have you had much experience in testing bronze for lead? I’ve seen your one test of a bronze piece (made out of copper and tin I believe), but have you had any other undocumented experiences of finding lead in bronze? I ask primarily because my guitar case latches are made of bronze, and seeing this post made me wonder. Thanks!
“Bronze” is a bit of generic word (in modern applications) to describe the color of a finish these days (vs. the actual makeup of the metal)… some bronze can have Lead and some does not. Many guitar cases have some Lead – but it is more likely to be found in the spun plastic fabrics or handles and less likely to be found in the latches. Newer guitar cases are more likely to be Lead-free. Guitar cases that are 10+ years old are more likely to have Leaded components. If you have an older plastic or nylon guitar case handle I recommend covering it with a fabric sleeve to address any potential concerns.
Thanks for commenting.
Tamara
There should not be any lead in new products, and certainly a manufacturer should not lie about it, but do we know whether this product poses a toxicity risk in normal use?
I would like to see the actual test results that you cite regarding lead content in bronze. I have a Finex cast iron pan. Please disclose to your readers the company that did testing on bronze components on Finex pans. I need more than a headline in a blog.
Thank you very much.
Hi Roger, this (in the blog that you are commenting on) is the actual test result set.
I do the testing myself. Here’s the post discussing the testing (This is linked on every page of the website in the header menu): https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
I am trained and certified in doing this type of testing and I do it as a free service for consumers in the absence of transparency by manufacturers. I have won two awards from the Federal government for my work. Here’s my certificate: https://tamararubin.com/2017/09/certificate/
Here’s a piece done by CBS This Morning about my work (to help you understand that the work I report here is legitimate):
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/some-fidget-spinners-contain-high-levels-of-lead-report-finds/
Here’s a link to my documentary film too (since you may not have seen it): https://youtu.be/eRKlaC2EjL0
An an interview from my YouTube series where I interview other parents of Lead poisoned children (this interview is with Jon Fishman, drummer of the band Phish – this is part one of three parts:) https://youtu.be/qq5b3Wyd44Q
Here is a separate post about Finex: https://tamararubin.com/2021/05/may-18-2021-portland-based-company-finex-is-outright-lying-to-customers-in-writing-about-lead-in-their-cookware/
And a post about the trend of putting Leaded brass on cookware in general: https://tamararubin.com/2018/04/a-new-trend-in-stupidity-expensive-fancy-cookware-with-leaded-brass-handles-is-all-the-rage-in-kitchen-fashion/
Let me know if you have any questions after taking a look at those.
Thank you.
Tamara
What can we, the people, do to get laws changed? It’s outrageous that knob or handle of a pan can have that much lead. It is expected to be handled frequently while preparing food, there’s no excuse for it.
I think the laws won’t make a difference – we just need to share this info with everyone we know and increase awareness. Once awareness reaches a critical mass – and generates enough outrage – then (perhaps) we can effectively advocate for the laws to change.
T
I own two Finex skillets with lids, plus Staub pots; you’ve tested a Staub example & its brass knob for lid was lead-free, but I’m dismayed about Finex. Le Creuset has replacement knobs that are supposedly 18/10 stainless even in brushed-gold finish . . . or maybe I could wash hands after touching Finex knob, or don’t touch it bare-handed? (Trying to find a reasonable workaround for very pricey pans; luckily I don’t use the lids much.)
You could email them and ask for a set of Lead-free knobs. They were providing those at one point.
T