XRF Test Result for Pfaltzgraff Heritage White (USA), c. mid-1980s

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Quick note from Tamara Rubin:

While the level of Lead found in the glaze on the food surface of this mid-1980s Pfaltzgraff  “Heritage White ” (Made in USA) dish is relatively low (especially compared to some other vintage dishes we have tested), it still falls above the modern safety standard for dishes meant for use by children (which have limits of 90 ppm Lead in the paint, glaze, or coating and 100 ppm Lead in the substrate).

The levels found combined with the degree of crazing (cracking / fine lines of deterioration of the glaze) on the food surface of this dish (see image above and additional images below) are indicators that it may be time to replace these with new dishes that are free of Lead. Crazing and cracking of the food surface glaze of a dish is often an indicator that it could possibly be leaching lead into some types of food, even if the dish met leach-testing standards for Lead at the time of Manufacture. All federal agencies agree that there is no safe level of Lead exposure for human beings, so that’s another important consideration when evaluating the potential safety of these dishes. In a pinch – these might be fine for a one-time use, however I would definitely recommend not using these as daily dishes (especially when “temporary” replacement clear glass dishes can be found at the Dollar Store for about $1.00 each! – while you shop around for your perfect new dish set!)

This piece was sent in for testing by Kelly in South Carolina! Thank you Kelly!


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 four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005).


Published: December 18, 2024

Reading: Center of Food Surface of Dish (White Glaze) -60-second reading, repeated multiple times to confirm the results:

  • Lead (Pb): 179 +/- 24 ppm
  • Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
  • Mercury (Hg): non-detect
  • Arsenic (As): non-detect
  • Bromine (Br): non-detect
  • Iron (Fe): 1,528 +/- 216 ppm
  • Copper (Cu): 461 +/- 60 ppm 
  • Zinc (Zn): 79 +/- 24 ppm
  • Zirconium (Zr): 32,100 +/- 1.000 ppm
  • Barium (Ba): 239 +/- 66 ppm
  • Platinum (Pt): 337 +/- 59 ppm
  • No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.

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