Two images we shared on social media today:
We currently have four articles published related to Fable dishware:
- Our initial article detailed the concerns and our test results from testing several examples of their products.
- A follow-up piece features our email exchange with the owner of Fable (an effort to help him better understand the issue as it was clear he did not read — or did not understand the content of — our initial article).
- An article including Fable’s response to customers — (which is identical to the statement published on their website) — and some commentary from me.
- A piece (below) which details some other myths and BLATANT misinformation we found on Fable’s website today (12/1/2023).
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For those new to the Lead Safe Mama 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).
- Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC — a community collaborative woman-owned small business for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety.
- Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific testing method) using the exact instrumentation employed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic).
- Since July of 2022, the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC has been responsible for 5 product recalls (FDA and CPSC).
- All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable.
- Items that Lead Safe Mama, LLC reports on are tested multiple times to confirm the results published (for each component tested).
- Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February 2023 (March 2023 print edition) and The Guardian in November 2023.
The first four images below are screenshots of some of the marketing B.S. from Fable’s website (captured today — December 1, 2023). What these bits of “information” demonstrate is that Fable is CLEARLY aware of the concern for Lead in dishware (even at “trace” amounts). These screenshots from their website also demonstrate that they really have no idea what they are talking about (with “they” being their marketing team, I assume?). When a company publishes so much nonsense, you really have to doubt their integrity across the board (specifically as it relates to its fundamental understanding of its primary marketing angle: Whether or not Fable’s products are actually Lead-free).
For “fun” (and because I expect Fable will be updating their website once they are made aware of this nonsense they have written), I have screen-captured three separate links from Fable’s website that were shared with me by a reader. There is some overlap on the screenshots for the pieces below — but I just wanted to publish them here for posterity/ the record.
Article #1 from Fable’s Website
Captured December 1, 2023
Article #2 from Fable’s Website
Captured December 1, 2023
Article #3 from Fable’s Website
Captured December 1, 2023
Thoroughly enjoying (while at the same time being angered and frustrated by) the exposure of Fable’s lies and their…fables, by Lead Safe Mama! How DARE they make these claims, then establish their own definitions to suit themselves! As consumers, we expect “lead free” to mean “free of lead” PERIOD! Just once I would like to see a company employ an independent scientist, experienced in the use of XRF technology, to thoroughly test their goods once notified of Tamara’s results. Then I would like to see them educate themselves, admit their wrongs, and change their materials/glazes/manufacturing processes – whatever it takes! This kind of issue simply doesn’t “blow over” if the company doubles down and denies! More and more consumers are making themselves aware, Tamara’s website and research is easily found, and more and more people are seeing straight through the greenwashing and lies.
Hi Tamara – Just an update. Fable offered me a refund of all my fable-ware, so I will be packing those up in the near future to send back to them. Thanks for posting about Fable!
I am looking to buy new dishware to replace it. I noticed that you no longer recommend Corelle on you shopping site? Is there a reason? I was thinking of buying a new white Corelle set (no mugs though) and wondered if there was a reason it is no longer recommended. Are they still free of lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, antimony, etc. including the logos?
Thanks for you help.
Hi Tamara – So sorry to bother you as I know you are busy, but any help regarding my question about Corelle above would be greatly appreciated. I’m looking to replace my Fable stuff w/ Corelle white dishware and wasn’t sure why you stopped recommending it? Thanks!
For those wo is wondering why Tamara is not recommending White Corelle dishes anymore, she explained it here in the comment section. Hope it will help.
https://tamararubin.com/2020/04/modern-2019-2020-plain-white-corelle-plate-with-new-logo-negative-for-lead-cadmium-arsenic-mercury/
Thanks for the info, I bought some (fortunately not a lot) of their dishware based entirely on their claims of being lead free :(. I also have some of their glassware, I love my water glasses from them specifically and use them daily. Have you tested any of those? Does the fact that they are made in Japan help the potential of actually being what they claim? I asked them about the glassware lead content and they were somewhat evasive and directed me to their testing which was not clear at all.