Full XRF test results for a 2021 Purchased (New) Spode Christmas Tree Dish (Made in China): positive for trace Lead & Cadmium.

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October 14, 2022 – Friday
Spode Christmas Tree pattern dishes are often positive for high levels of Lead.

I need to start this post with the following disclaimer: even though (as you can see from the XRF test results below) this newer version of this Christmas Tree pattern of Spode dishes is only positive for low levels of toxicants (and is specifically in the safe range for Lead, by all U.S. and international standards) it is very important that Lead Safe Mama readers not extrapolate these test results to other production years or patterns. You simply cannot assume this same pattern from this same brand manufactured in years or decades earlier might test similarly.

In general, older (Vintage / Antique) Spode dishes often test positive for very high levels of Lead and should not be considered safe for food-use purposes (especially after years or decades of use and washing in the dishwasher, for example.) Click this link to read more about the concern for Lead in dishware. Click this link to see more examples of Spode brand china that have been tested, with the test results reported on this website. The Lead concerns vary by pattern and by age. It does seem (based on the testing we have done) that at least starting in the late-1990s Spode (as a company) started being more conscious about reducing the amount of Lead in their dishware (here’s one example.)

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Reading #1) With a focus on the center of the food surface of the dish
60-second reading
Readings repeated multiple times to confirm the results

• Lead (Pb): 107 +/- 16 ppm (safe by all standards)
• Cadmium (Cd): 113 +/- 8 ppm
• Tin (Sn): 46 +/- 9 ppm
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): 249 +/- 35 ppm
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr):12,700 +/- 600 ppm
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Nickel (Ni): 702 +/- 72 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 181 +/- 31 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 15,600 +/- 300 ppm
• Bromine (Br): non-detect
• Bismuth (Bi): non-detect
• Zirconium (Zr): 5,353 +/- 119 ppm
• Niobium (Nb): non-detect
• Iron (Fe): 5.149 +/- 232 ppm
• Platinum (Pt): 267 +/- 65 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 2,324 +/- 135 ppm
• No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.

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Reading #2) With a focus on the off-white part of the food surface of the dish
Readings repeated multiple times to confirm the results

• Lead (Pb): 33 +/- 9 ppm (safe by all standards)
• Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
• Tin (Sn): non-detect
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): 200 +/- 29 ppm
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): non-detect
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Nickel (Ni): non-detect
• Copper (Cu): non-detect
• Zinc (Zn): 18,100 +/- 400 ppm
• Bromine (Br): non-detect
• Bismuth (Bi): non-detect
• Zirconium (Zr): 913 +/- 23 ppm
• Niobium (Nb): non-detect
• Iron (Fe): 1,289 +/- 120 ppm
• Platinum (Pt): 90 +/- 59 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): non-detect
• No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.

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Reading #3) With a focus on the black logo / back mark of the dish
Readings repeated multiple times to confirm the results

• Lead (Pb): 40 +/- 10 ppm (safe by all standards)
• Cadmium (Cd): 12 +/- 5 ppm
• Tin (Sn): 16 +/- 8 ppm
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): 252 +/- 30 ppm
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): 5,353 +/- 380 ppm
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Nickel (Ni): 691 +/- 63 ppm
• Copper (Cu): non-detect
• Zinc (Zn): 16,200 +/- 300 ppm
• Bromine (Br): non-detect
• Bismuth (Bi): non-detect
• Zirconium (Zr): 1,021 +/- 25 ppm
• Niobium (Nb): non-detect
• Indium (In): 12 +/- 6 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 5,745 +/- 228 ppm
• Platinum (Pt): 92 +/- 57 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 969 +/- 92 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): 26 +/- 12 ppm
• No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.

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For those new to this website

Tamara Rubin is a Federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. Tamara’s sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in August of 2005. 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. Her work was also responsible for two CPSC product recalls in the summer of 2022, the Jumping Jumperoo recall (June 2022) and the Lead painted NUK baby bottle recall (July 2022) and was featured in an NPR story about Lead in consumer goods in August of 2022. Tamara uses XRF testing (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. All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times, to confirm the test results for each component tested and reported on. Please click through to this link to learn more about the testing methodology used for the test results discussed and reported on this website.