Made In Portugal

More Myths & Misinformation on Fable’s Website (12/1/2023)

December 1, 2023February 7, 2024

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…

As expected, Fable uses alternate definition of the term “Lead-free” to justify the presence of Lead (& Cadmium) in their dishes (which are advertised as “Lead-free”)

December 1, 2023December 3, 2023

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We currently have three 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 featured our email exchange with the owner of Fable (an effort to help him better understand the issue as it was clear he did…

Aptly named “Fable” pottery, selling Lead-contaminated ceramics marketed as Lead-free (some “tea” — aka drama — developing). Here’s Lead Safe Mama’s email exchange with the owner.

November 29, 2023December 1, 2023

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Popular Canadian Fable dishware (sold as “non-toxic” & “Lead-free”) tests positive for Lead in glaze — read more here

November 28, 2023February 7, 2024

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Alternate Title Concept: Aptly named “Fable” pottery, selling Lead-contaminated ceramics and marketing them as Lead-free. Read more here. This is an ad-free article. There’s a lot of information (including lots of images) in this article, so we are publishing it as an ad-free article to make it easier to read. To make a contribution…

Last year I called Williams Sonoma out, yet again, for making & selling Lead-contaminated dishes. Their “solution” for 2023? Just slap a big ol’ sticker on the back.

May 1, 2023September 24, 2023

4 Comments

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 used by…

Denby Floral Pattern Fine China Tabletop Designs 1974, Made in Portugal: as high as 24,500 ppm Lead on the food surface

April 19, 2023April 21, 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 Commission)…

Sicily Mixed Dipping Bowls from Williams Sonoma, Made in Portugal: 237 ppm Lead + 70 ppm Cadmium

February 12, 2022May 3, 2023

2022 | Made In Portugal | Williams Sonoma | Williams Sonoma Dishes

Note: these are high-fire and likely non-leaching. I was actually surprised to find the Lead and Cadmium levels on these pieces to be as low as they are; considering they are from Portugal, I would have expected much higher Lead levels. Additionally, it is important to note that the testing component of the XRF instrument…

“Made in Portugal” Williams Sonoma dinner plate: 151,800 ppm Lead on the food surface. 90 ppm is unsafe for for kids!

February 19, 2020February 19, 2020

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Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. Tamara uses XRF testing (a scientific…

vds “Made in Portugal” glazed bowl (suspected of causing an Elevated Blood Lead Level [EBL] in owner): 63,700 ppm Lead.

February 18, 2020May 6, 2020

4 Comments

One of my readers sent this dish to me because she tested positive for Lead – and was concerned that perhaps her dishes might be the source of her Lead exposure. Well… based on the XRF test results, it appears that in this case, her concerns are likely valid. When tested with a a high-precision…

2019 Ikea Brand, Made In Portugal “Arv” floral white & green plate: 126 ppm Lead. (Read full post for details.)

September 17, 2019September 18, 2019

5 Comments

Background on my work testing Ikea products since 2009: Since I get so many *Ikea* questions (and since I have long-recommended Ikea as a great general-purpose go-to brand), I decided to purchase some new, current Ikea plates myself, and post their test results here on the blog. With much of what I test and report…

2012 Pottery Barn Emma Made In Portugal White Ceramic Saucer: 52 +/- 17 ppm Lead (Pb). Safe by all standards.

August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this Emma design white ceramic saucer Made in Portugal for the Pottery Barn label (which the owner says she purchased new c. 2012) had the following readings: Bottom of saucer (logo area): Lead (Pb): 52 +/- 17 ppm Zinc (Zn): 22,800 +/- 700 ppm Copper (Cu): 230 +/- 51…

Threshold by Target (Made in Portugal) glazed terracotta appetizer dish: 4,000 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids)

June 9, 2019May 15, 2024

5 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…

Dansk “Bistro Cafe” Pattern Ceramic Plate: 4,555 ppm Lead. [Context: 90 ppm Lead is considered unsafe in new items for kids.]

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019

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This is a Dansk brand “Bistro Cafe” Belgian Blue Ceramic Plate, made in Portugal. The owner of this item told me that it was purchased at a Dansk outlet store in 2005. When tested with an XRF instrument it had the following readings: Blue Glazed Edging of Plate: Lead (Pb): 4,555 +/- 114 ppm Chromium…

Sur La Table Fish Platter, Made in Portugal: 6,623 ppm Lead when tested with an XRF instrument.

April 9, 2018May 22, 2019

6 Comments

This ceramic “Sur La Table” brand fish platter (Made in Portugal) was positive for lead at 6,623 parts per million when tested with an XRF instrument. Tested in 2014. To see more “Made in Portugal” things I have tested, click here. Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts. Please let me know if…

Pottery Barn Portugese Dish: 363 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items [but dishes aren’t used by kids, right?]

November 19, 2017September 27, 2019

14 Comments

White Pottery Barn Plate; hand crafted in Portugal. When tested with an XRF instrument this white glazed ceramic plate came in at levels as high as 363 ppm Lead. Dishes are not considered “items intended for use by children”… For context, the amount of Lead that is considered illegal (and unsafe) in anything manufactured today…

Pier One Yellow Glazed Ceramic Plate, Made in Portugal: 6,495 ppm Lead

January 14, 2017February 10, 2019

12 Comments

Yellow Pier One plate/ bowl When tested with an XRF instrument this dish was positive for Lead at 6,495 ppm. This is actually fairly common both for Pier 1 pieces as well as for ceramic pieces that are made in Portugal. As a result I always stay away from Pier One for dishware personally. To see…