Cast Iron

Full XRF Test Results for a Small Smithey Cast Iron Pan

April 30, 2023May 2, 2023

Introduction (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, her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005. Since 2009 Tamara has been using XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety…

February 2023 Update: Solidteknics is offering a 30% discount to Lead Safe Mama readers

February 23, 2023September 27, 2023

16 Comments

February 23, 2023 – Thursday 30% DISCOUNT CODE BELOW Solidteknics Stainless Pans Shop – Link: https://shrsl.com/3y0qx Solidteknics Iron Pans – Link: https://shrsl.com/3y0r0 This is a Lead Safe Mama, LLC affiliate link for Solidteknics. Solidteknics products are my personal favorite Lead-free pans (and the pans I use every day in my home — when I am…

My favorite Lead-free pans!

November 24, 2022February 25, 2023

5 Comments

Originally Published: November 24, 2022 UPDATED: February 23, 2023 – Thursday Solidteknics Stainless Pans Shop – Link: https://shrsl.com/3y0qx Solidteknics Iron Pans – Link: https://shrsl.com/3y0r0 30% DISCOUNT CODE BELOW This is a Lead Safe Mama, LLC affiliate link for Solidteknics. Solidteknics products are my personal favorite Lead-free pans (and the pans I use every day in…

My favorite Lead-free pans.

April 2, 2022February 25, 2023

51 Comments

Originally Published: April 2, 2022 UPDATED: February 23, 2023 – Thursday 30% DISCOUNT CODE BELOW Solidteknics Stainless Pans Shop – Link: https://shrsl.com/3y0qx Solidteknics Iron Pans – Link: https://shrsl.com/3y0r0 This is a Lead Safe Mama, LLC affiliate link for Solidteknics. Solidteknics products are my personal favorite Lead-free pans (and the pans I use every day in…

Tor-Mex Mexico tortilla press painted with red high-Lead paint (Sur La Table, what the HELL is wrong with you!?): 18,000 ppm Lead (90 ppm & up is unsafe for kids)

December 13, 2021August 14, 2024

1 Comment

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,…

Brass components of Finex cast iron pans test positive for 30,000 ppm Lead. For context, 90 ppm Lead (& up) is unsafe for kids.

May 19, 2021

9 Comments

May 19, 2021 – Wednesday To read the full post about the concerns for Lead in Finex cookware, click here. How much Lead is “too much” Lead? For context, the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in an item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint,…

US-ION 7.5 inch Iron Skillet by SolidTeknics: 99.54% Iron when tested with an XRF instrument. Click to read full details.

January 15, 2021March 6, 2022

9 Comments

Published: January 15, 2021 Introduction to Tamara Rubin (for those new to this website!) Tamara Rubin lives in Portland, Oregon and is a child health advocate, author, documentary filmmaker, and mother of four sons. Her young men are now 24, 18, 15, and 12. She has won multiple national awards for her Lead-poisoning prevention advocacy work…

XRF test results for small unbranded “Made in USA” 6-1/2 inch cast iron skillet. What is plain cast iron made of exactly?

May 23, 2019January 21, 2023

21 Comments

I am unsure of the brand on this pan. This is a pan from my kitchen that I just grabbed off the rack for this post. I believe we got it at a yard sale, maybe 20 years ago. In addition to the words “Made in USA” and “6-1/2 inch Skillet” there is a “T”…

A winner for “Best Cast Iron Pan!” Stargazer USA-made pre-seasoned: Lead-free (Cadmium, Mercury, & Arsenic-free too!)

May 23, 2019July 16, 2024

54 Comments

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,…

Light Blue & White Lodge Cast Iron Enameled Dutch Oven: 48 ppm Lead + 35 ppm Arsenic

January 14, 2019

25 Comments

I tested this light blue Lodge enameled cast iron dutch oven lid back in 2015 (at the Portland Green Festival!) With more recently tested items I capture a much more comprehensive panel of test results, however with this one I just captured the following two sets of readings (which are enough to support my…

Dark Blue & White Lodge Cast Iron Enameled Dutch Oven (c. 2006): 1,693 ppm Lead + 555 ppm Arsenic

January 14, 2019January 14, 2019

9 Comments

I tested this Lodge enameled cast iron dutch oven back in 2016. With more recently tested items I capture a much more comprehensive panel of test results, however with this one I just captured the following two sets of readings (which are enough to support my opinion that enameled cast iron should always be avoided…

#LeadFree: Gray Staub Coated Cast Iron La Cocotte Casserole

December 19, 2017June 10, 2020

37 Comments

This is a coated cast iron casserole by Staub that was tested in 2016. It tested negative for lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury when tested with an XRF instrument. The interior and exterior surfaces were tested. The exterior was positive for chromium (Cr) at 26,200 ppm. For context chromium is part of many stainless…

Dr. Mercola “Metals Free” Frying Pan: 14,900 ppm Lead. Check out the 140+ comments on this one, too!

June 9, 2017April 17, 2024

169 Comments

Introduction (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, her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005. Since 2009 Tamara has been using XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)…

#CadmiumConcerns: Le Creuset Casserole

January 7, 2017January 14, 2019

24 Comments

Le Creuset Casserole. red coating: 11,900 ppm cadmium. The exterior coating was non-detect for lead. Inside: non-detect for cadmium. Click here to read about #CadmiumConcerns Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For more safer choices in dishware options, click here.

Q. Do cast iron pans ever test positive for Lead? A. Sometimes. Q. Are cast iron pans safe? A. Mostly! Click to read more.

December 30, 2015March 9, 2024

71 Comments

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,…