For those new to this 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 sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).
XRF test results for the dish pictured
(on the decorative design on the food surface of the dish)
- Cadmium (Cd): 303 +/- 15 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 348 +/- 48 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 3,948 +/- 350 ppm
- Selenium (Se): 261 +/- 22 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 3,662 +/- 89 ppm
- Platinum (Pt): 110 +/- 52 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 3,528 +/- 129 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 103 +/- 35 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 3,603 +/- 201 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 4,593 +/- 270 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 525 +/- 230 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 5,829 +/- 376 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 29,800 +/- 1,100 ppm
- Lead (Pb): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Antimony (Sb): non-detect
Thank you for reading and sharing this work!
This article was published the weekend of June 4-6, 2021.
With the articles I am writing this weekend, I am doing my best to write up and publish as many test result sets as possible as quickly as possible (because I am over a YEAR behind in my writing as a result of the fact that I have had absolutely no childcare for most of the pandemic [no childcare since about two weeks before the pandemic actually… as my kids were already out sick (with various illnesses) when the pandemic started]!)
Yup that’s right – some people have been waiting (ever so patiently) for more than a year for the test results for their items because of the impact the pandemic has had on my ability to both test consumer goods and coherently write about them (and also take the time to document each item with photographs.)
To this end — in the articles this weekend — I am simply including photos of the items tested along with the XRF test results and will not be writing more specifically about each of these products, like I usually do, at this time (in the interest of getting as much information out to my readers as quickly as possible).
THAT SAID if you are new below are EIGHT LINKS with some important background information:
- This link discusses the testing I report on here on the website.
- This link has a short video that shows you how to efficiently search the more than 3,000 articles and pages here on the Lead Safe Mama website.
- This link has info about my background as well as rates to hire me for an event, a private home consultation, or as a consultant.
- This link has information about my October United States travel schedule and my current calendar for scheduling in-person home consultations with me this year.
- This link has information about hiring me for a Zoom consult to teach a class or be a speaker at a Zoom event.
- This is the link to the documentary feature film that I directed and produced on childhood Lead poisoning. I encourage you to watch it if you have not yet seen it. It is 92 minutes so… grab some popcorn… it is up on YouTube free of charge.
- This is the link to our new “Shop Lead Safe Mama” website — which lists only products (in various categories) that we have found to be consistently Lead-free (when tested with an XRF instrument).
- This is the link that explains how to have something of yours tested with the test results reported here on the website.
I think that’s it! Let me know if you have any questions about this particular item by commenting here on this piece. Thanks again for being here!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
This item is in the title referred to as “cream-colored.” I am not an expert in Corelle, but I thought that the only two solid colors they have used have been white (in multiple shades of white, I think) and a “cream-colored” one called “sandstone” of which they have sold plain or with many different painted designs. You show results on the painted design. Would you also have tested the “sandstone” portion aside from the painted design? I have 2 sets of the cream-colored. One set it called “Abundance” and the other is the plain sandstone with no design or painting anywhere on it. I am likely going to get rid of the “Abundance” pattern, but can I send you the plain sandstone to test or is there no problem with it if there is no pattern on it? It was all produced mostly during the 90’s and some maybe in the very early 2000’s.
Are the plain white corelle dishes safe?
They are the safest of all corelle. I don’t know about the very old corelle, but Lead Safe Mama recommends the plain white corelle. If I’m not mistaken she said that she has tested many of the plain white corelle produced at many different time periods and they have consistently come back with results indicating they are safe. The mugs that go with them are made of a different material and no guarantee of safety. Please correct me if I am wrong about any of this, but the correct info which I am trying to repeat is available on this site. She gives a list of recommended dishes and I’d stick with that. One set of Corelle dishes I believe she tested has decoration on it and the test came out fine. I think it is Portofino. I have switched to the plain white and am so happy. If it’s boring to you, get some fancy napkins to have your pattern on the table. Who needs patterned plates?! I feel liberated from being locked into a pattern on my plates. Plain is wonderful in my opinion! So many options when you match up napkins. And my teacups are transparent glass. I used to worry about having my teacups match my plates but now when I use my Aspen collection plates from Crate & Barrel, the clear teacups go with those as well. Life is simpler now, yet I still set an elegant table. I still have the plain “sandstone” (cream-colored) corelle and would still like to know if that in plain is considered a safe option. I haven’t seen where Lead Safe Mama has found any problem with the cream part but only with the designs painted onto the sandstone (cream) dishes.
Mine has apples and the word Farmhouse on them.I believe they were bought in the 90’s. Said I stop using them ?
Corelle even recommends against using their earlier patterns except as decoration. I’d stop using them for sure. I had the “Abundance” pattern (made around the same time as the ones you have). I reluctantly got rid of them and now I can’t believe I was so reluctant. Food truly does look best in a plain white plate. I love the plain so much more and when I need to see a “pattern” and don’t feel like breaking out the patterned napkins, I put a luncheon plate inside the plain white dish and the pattern is Corelle’s Portofino which tested out okay by Lead Safe Mama. And I put a serving dish and a water pitcher on the table with the Portofino pattern (pretty blue & White) to tie the look together. I love it. I appreciate just a touch of pattern. I think it looks more elegant and makes the pattern stand out more when the table isn’t overwhelmed by “pattern.” I also sometimes add the luncheon plate “Bella Faenza” to the white plate for a touch of texture. It was also on the recommended list but I don’t prefer to have the whole set of it. Just having the luncheon plates is enough for me for an occasional change.
So if i gave the birdhouse corelle dish set i should not use them to eat off due to lead in them? What corelle is safe at this time to use? plain white? Ive had my set forever so have no idea of year i purchased. Thanks for this info very helpful as i had no idea lead was in them at all.