Ceramic Mugs

Souvenir mug Airport Purchase from Riyadh Saudi Arabia (of all places!): 21,300 ppm Lead

March 25, 2019August 6, 2024

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,…

1997 “Vintage” Campbell’s Soup Ceramic Mug: 11,400 ppm Lead + 1,251 ppm Cadmium [M’m! M’m! Good! NOT!]

March 14, 2019August 14, 2019

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When tested with an XRF instrument the vintage (vintage is 20+ years officially, so yes – 1997 is vintage!) ceramic mug pictured here tested positive for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: White undecorated elements of mug (including inside of mug): Barium (Ba): 2,405 +/- 276 ppm Tin (Sn): 3,843 +/- 303…

Campbell’s Soups Salute America 1976 Ceramic Mug: 65,300 ppm Lead + 882 ppm Cadmium [mm ‘Lead is good food!’ NOT]

March 8, 2019May 25, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument the vintage ceramic mug pictured here (Campbell’s Soups Salute America” – Made in Brazil) tested positive for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: White undecorated elements of mug (including inside of mug): Lead (Pb): 21,600 +/- 700 ppm Zinc (Zn): 11, 100 +/- 400 ppm Copper…

2018 New Orleans Souvenir Mug: 16,700 ppm Lead, 109 ppm Cadmium.

January 13, 2019December 7, 2023

When tested with an XRF instrument this New Orleans souvenir mug (purchased in New Orleans in 2018, no mark or maker) was positive for high levels of Lead both inside and out. Continue reading below to see the full XRF test results for this mug. When testing is done with an XRF instrument, the amount…

C. 2016 “The Polar Express” Christmas Train Mug: 27,600 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids), 358 ppm Cadmium

January 13, 2019November 5, 2024

For those new to this 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). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method…

Hearth & Hand with Magnolia (by Chip & Joanna Gaines) Green & Gold mug: 117 +/- 26 ppm Lead (Lead-safe)

December 16, 2018February 28, 2024

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Hearth & Hand with Magnolia, by Chip & Joanna Gaines Light Sage Green Ceramic mug with Gold Flecks 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…

Dema Designs Romsey Brown and Blue Ceramic Mug: 29 ppm Lead (Lead-Safe)

December 12, 2018December 15, 2018

When tested with an XRF instrument this Dema Designs Romsey brown and blue ceramic mug had the following XRF readings: Brown area of glaze: (Each second done for at least 60 seconds. Tests that were positive for toxicants were repeated multiple times to confirm the results.) Lead (Pb): 29 +/- 12 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative…

Plain White Ceramic Pottery Barn PB Classic Mug: 2,528 ppm Lead on the Logo. 90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items.

November 13, 2018September 27, 2019

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Plain White Ceramic Pottery Barn Mug. The logo on the bottom of this Pottery Barn PB Classic ceramic mug is positive for a fairly high level of lead. If you want a guideline on determining if your mug’s logo is leaded I have found the following rule to consistently be true (probably about 99% of…

2018 ‘Natural Life” Rainbow Unicorn Mug: 891 ppm Lead + 218 ppm Cadmium [90 ppm Lead is unsafe, 40 ppm Cadmium]

October 20, 2018May 25, 2019

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Well. I apologize in advance. I know I am going to break at least one heart with this post! [Just because something is in the shape of a unicorn does NOT mean that it is free of toxic chemicals, lol!] I tested several components of this mug, and stopped once I found high levels of…

XRF Test Results For Cardew Design Made in China (Designed In England) Wizard of Oz Commemorative Mug Set

September 8, 2018

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Below are the XRF readings for this commemorative Wizard of Oz mug set. This set is from Cardew Design North America Inc and was made in 2011 (after the CPSC regulation limiting the amount of lead in items made for use by and marketed to children!) While the company might argue that this is not…

Newly Purchased August 2018 Rae Dunn Ceramic Coffee Mugs from Marshall’s

August 22, 2018August 23, 2018

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These ceramic Rae Dunn brand coffee mugs (Made in China) were purchased at a Marshall’s in Portland, Oregon for about $5 each in August 2018. Each has a slightly different finish, so one would expect them to each test slightly different in terms of an levels of lead found when texted with an XRF instrument….

#LeadFree: Crate & Barrel Made In Japan White Ceramic Mug

July 9, 2018December 15, 2018

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This Crate & Barrel white ceramic mug (Made In Japan) was negative (non-detect/ND) for lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) when tested with an XRF instrument. The glaze on the main part of the cup was positive for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: Barium (Ba): 131 +/- 42…

2017 Walgreens Ceramic Christmas “Not Intended For Children” Santa Mug: 1,657 ppm Cadmium (40 ppm is unsafe)

June 24, 2018May 17, 2024

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…

2017 Starbucks Coffee “You Are Here” Collection, California Mug: 6,397 ppm Lead [> 90 is unsafe for kids.]

April 12, 2018November 16, 2019

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XRF test results for the mug pictured: When tested with an XRF instrument this Starbucks Coffee Brand Ceramic “You Are Here” Collection “California” Mug (c. 2017) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 6,397 +/- 184 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative The amount of Lead that…

#Leaded: Logo Mug with Bible Verse

April 3, 2018January 14, 2020

Logo Mug: Hebrews 3:4 “…He that built all things is God.” Green Logo on white mug with gold trim (tested in 2014). The green logo on this is positive for lead at 54,800 ppm. The gold trim and white mug are both “ND” (non-detect) for lead. Pretty much all mugs with logos like this are…

#Leaded: Grey Dog Ceramic Coffee Mug

April 3, 2018April 3, 2018

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The Grey Dog’s Coffee, Ceramic Mug (New York City). 19,100 ppm lead. Tested (in 2013) with an XRF instrument. I used to love this thick ceramic old fashioned style coffee mug from cafes & diners! Now I am always suspicious that any mug like this is likely to be very high lead. Given the ones…

Rae Dunn Collectors are SO upset that I found lead in these pieces that…

February 24, 2018December 23, 2018

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Updated: 12/23/2018 Rae Dunn Collectors are SO upset that I found lead in these pieces that… … folks have taken to writing false and slanderous statements about me publicly on social media (in an effort to disprove my findings!) Oy! [We’ve saved screenshots, and hopefully it will stop!] These are passionate collectors I guess! Check…

#Leaded: Child’s Zoo Mug

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018

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Ceramic child’s mug with zoo pattern. Positive for lead at 20,900 ppm. No mark or maker noted. Tested with an XRF in 2014. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is anything 90 ppm lead or higher. Mugs are not considered items intended for use by…

#Leaded: Magnum P.I. Tiki Mug

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018

Probably one of the strangest things I have ever tested! This Magnum P.I. Tiki Mug tested positive for lead at 17,600 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2013. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is anything 90 ppm lead or higher. Mugs are…

#Leaded: Chili Pepper Mug

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018

Chili Pepper Ceramic Mug: 5,048 ppm lead (inside), 11,000 ppm lead outside. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2013. Made in China. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is anything 90 ppm lead or higher. Mugs are not considered items intended for use by children and,…

#Leaded: Prince Charles Mug

January 29, 2018December 7, 2023

Prince Charles souvenir ceramic mug. Tested positive for lead at 300 ppm. No mark or maker noted. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2013. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is anything 90 ppm lead or higher. Mugs are not considered items intended for use…

#Leaded: Boy Scouts Mug

January 28, 2018

Boy Scouts Mug, c. 1996/1997: 9,774 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2016. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is anything 90 ppm lead or higher. Mugs are not considered items intended for use by children and, as such, are not regulated for…

#Leaded: Big Bird Child’s Mug

January 28, 2018

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Big Bird Ceramic Child’s Mug: 15,100 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2013. Made in Japan If you have an interest in learning more about these posts (likely because you are new to my site!) please check out this post and this post for a start! Thanks for visiting! To see more mugs…

#Leaded: MIT Souvenir College Mug

January 28, 2018December 7, 2023

Souvenir Mug from MIT: 32,400 ppm lead. The other mugs shown in this photo range from 17,000 to 19,000 ppm lead. One mug out of 7 tested on this date was lead-free. Tested in 2013. If you have an interest in learning more about these posts (likely because you are new to my site!) please…