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

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 limits to 90 ppm Lead in the paint, glaze, or coating and 100 ppm Lead in the substrate).

These levels found, combined with the degree of crazing (cracking/ fine lines of deterioration in the glaze) on the food surface of this dish (see image above and additional images below), are indicators it may be time to replace this set with new Lead-free dishes. Crazing and cracking of the food surface glaze on a dish is often an indicator that the dish 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 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” replacements of clear glass dishes can be found at any local Dollar Store for about $1 each)!

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).

Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC — a unique community collaborative woman-owned small business for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety.
Since July 2022, the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC has been responsible for six product recalls (FDA and CPSC).
All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable.
Please check out our press page to see some of the news coverage of our work, linked here.