Made In USA

#Leaded: “Vintage”? 1980s? Corning Mug With Floral Pattern

December 19, 2017January 28, 2018

While I don’t know the exact year of manufacture for this Corning mug with a floral pattern on the side, there is an “81” on the bottom and it has a color scheme that is also consistent with things like this from the early 1980s. The decorative element on this Corning mug tests positive for…

Vintage 1980 Fisher Price Quaker Oats Toy Radio: 2,110 ppm Lead, 108 ppm Cadmium, 204 ppm Arsenic.

December 10, 2017April 6, 2019

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1980 Fisher Price toy plastic radio with wind up music box. When tested with an XRF instrument this musical toy had the following readings: Yellow plastic components: 2,087 +/- 55 ppm lead 20 +/- 10 ppm cadmium 204 +/- 37 ppm arsenic White plastic components: 58 +/- 10 ppm lead 108 +/- 12 ppm cadmium…

Vintage Corelle Livingware Spring Blossom Green Crazy Daisy Mug: 31,700 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids]

December 5, 2017December 1, 2019

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Corelle Livingware – by Corning – Made In the U.S.A. Mug. Crazy Daisy, Spring Blossom Green Pattern. Year of manufacture unknown. Tested in 2014. This cup tested positive for 31,700 ppm Lead (Pb) when tested with an XRF instrument. To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE. Related: Tamara, why is this a problem? Is this…

#LeadFree: 6 oz clear glass Ball brand mason jar

December 3, 2017May 5, 2023

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Small 6oz Ball brand clear glass canning jar, lid and band. Newly purchased in 2017. Tested with an XRF instrument. “Non-Detect” (negative) for lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd.) We use Ball brand canning jars (of all sizes) every day in our home. While the lids are free of the toxicants listed…

#LeadFree: SMI Stainless Spoon / Flatware

December 3, 2017December 3, 2017

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Stainless Steel Spoon, marked “SMI”on the back: Non-detect/negative for Lead (Pb). Also non-detect for mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As.) Tested with an XRF instrument. The SMI mark appears to be that of Liberty Tabletop products a division of Sherrill MFG. Inc. “America’s Flatware Company.” These are Made in the USA and seem to…

This “Go Green” organic face paint is a nice Lead-free option for the kiddos. What brand do you use?

December 3, 2017October 4, 2023

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…

#LeadFree: Silicone Kiddiebites Baby Plate

December 1, 2017December 1, 2017

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Silicone Kiddiebites brand baby plate purchased in 2017. Made in USA. Tested with an XRF instrument. Non-detect for lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg) and Arsenic (As), but positive for trace Cadmium (Cd) at 20 +/- 7 parts per million (ppm.) Read more about cadmium concerns here. Quite a few silicone baby items that have been tested…

#Leaded: Vintage Tinker Toys Tin

November 30, 2017November 30, 2017

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Vintage “Tinker Toy Junior” container – paper: 115 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument. The amount of lead considered toxic in a modern/ newly manufactured toy made for children is anything 90 ppm lead or higher. This toy would be considered just marginally outside of the #LeadSafe range (there are many other vintage toys…

Myth: “Plain white china is usually Lead-free.” For your consideration, Homer Laughlin Ceramic Plate: 75,032 ppm Lead.

November 26, 2017November 23, 2020

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White plate by Homer Laughlin: 75,032 ppm Lead. Pre-2015, exact year unknown. Made in U.S.A. There’s a common myth circulating around the internet (and among home hazard assessors and others in the business of Lead poisoning prevention too) that plain white simple ceramic dishes are generally Lead-free. This simply is not true and the Homer…

Marine Commissary WW2 Dish: 43,200 ppm Lead

November 23, 2017February 23, 2020

WWII US Marine Commissary Vitrified China dish, by Sterling, East Liverpool, Ohio: 43,200 ppm LEAD. Read more about testing dishes here. To see the #LeadFree dishes I use in my home, click here. For more #SaferChoices for your family, click here. To make a contribution in support of my independent consumer goods testing and lead…

Chateau Buffet Bowl, Made In USA

November 23, 2017

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Chateau Buffet – USA made – 140,000 ppm lead! The amount of lead in dishes is not specifically regulated (as a portion of content.) The thing that is regulated (in some areas) with newer items is the amount that leaches into food. If you have older dishes with high levels of lead, all bets are…

Newer (c. 2013?) Lenox Opal Innocence pattern china (Made in USA): Lead-free!

November 21, 2017February 19, 2020

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Originally posted: November 21, 2017 Updated: February 19, 2020 Newer (c. 2013?) Opal Innocence Lenox Fine Bone China, Classics Collection. These were tested with an XRF instrument and came up non-detect for Lead. Please note, the golden/platinum band may or may not have lead in it but it does not take up enough of the…

Sterling Vitrified China, WW2 U.S. Navy, Ohio: 44,800 ppm Lead

November 21, 2017February 23, 2020

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Vintage military U.S. Navy china. Sterling Vitrified China Made in East Liverpool Ohio, USA – circa 1940: 44,800 ppm lead when tested with an XRF. Vintage military china may also test positive using a LeadCheck swab. This belonged to my uncle who was a doctor in the Navy during WWII. Read more about testing dishes…

Lenox Dimension Collection Eternal Pattern, Newer

November 19, 2017November 19, 2017

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Newer Lenox china. Same pattern as one from earlier post, but this piece is made in last 10 years or so (c. 2006) and has the words “dishwasher safe” on the bottom with the logo. This was positive for just 70 ppm lead when tested with an XRF. This is considered safe by all standards (European…

Lenox Dimension Collection Eternal China, c. 1994: 349,000 ppm Lead (35% Lead!) Over 90 ppm is unsafe in new kids’ items.

November 19, 2017November 25, 2020

20 Comments

Lenox Dimension Collection Eternal China Plate. When tested with an XRF instrument the glaze on this Made in the USA Lenox brand dish tested positive for 349,000 ppm Lead. That’s 34.9% Lead. This is a newer dish! c. 1994 I was told this was approximately 20+ years old when tested in 2014, so this is from c….

Vintage Lenox Charleston Pattern China Teacup: 85,000 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

April 30, 2017March 18, 2019

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Vintage Lenox Charleston Pattern China Teacup: 85,000 ppm Lead. Most people assume that vintage china like this (made by a well known, “reputable” brand name) is safe to eat off of. This is simply not true. Most vintage Lenox china I have tested has been positive for high levels of lead. [Some of the newer Lenox…

Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Dinner Plate: 459,300 ppm Lead. Context; 90 ppm Lead is illegal in new items made for kids.

January 15, 2017August 12, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this orange vintage Bauer, Los Angeles dinner plate was positive for 459,300 parts per million lead. [Sorry about the fuzzy photo!] That’s more than 45% Lead in the glaze! This dish tested negative with Lead Check swab (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – not…

Blue Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Dinner Plate: 434,800 parts per million Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

January 15, 2017August 12, 2019

Blue plate, vintage Bauer, Los Angeles: 434,800 parts per million lead. Even though the Lead level on this plate (when tested with an XRF instrument) was incredibly high, this particular plate tested negative with tested with a Lead Check swab* (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – and do not always…

Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Blue Mixing Bowl: 474,100 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe in children’s items.

January 14, 2017April 13, 2020

Blue vintage mixing bowl by “Bauer, Los Angeles”. When tested with an XRF instrument the bowl pictured had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 454,100 parts per million (ppm) on the outside Lead (Pb): 474,100 ppm on the inside (the FOOD SURFACE of the bowl!) Important to note, the bowl also tested negative with Lead Check…

Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand Mixing Bowl: 31,500 ppm Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)

January 14, 2017January 25, 2019

Ceramic “Hull” mixing bowl: 31,400 ppm lead. For LEAD FREE mixing bowl choices, click HERE. For more safer choices in kitchenware options, click here. Note: I am not saying this particular bowl will poison the people using it. I am saying that there is no reason for one of the most potent neurotoxins known to…

Vintage Syracuse china “Old Ivory” bowl with gold trim: 31,400 ppm Lead. For context: 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

January 4, 2017September 1, 2019

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When tested with an XRF instrument this “Made in USA” – Syracuse brand vintage “Old Ivory” pattern china bowl was positive for 31,400 ppm Lead. For safer choices in dishware options, click here. To see more vintage china I have tested, click here. To see more Syracuse brand pieces I have tested, click here. As…

Syracuse China “Old Ivory” “Made In America” Tea Cup: 26,200 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

January 4, 2017September 1, 2019

Antique Syracuse China “Made In America” Old Ivory Teacup; Tested positive for lead (Pb) at 26,200 ppm when tested with an XRF instrument. For context: the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is 90 ppm lead or higher (in the paint, glaze or coating.)…

Modern Fiestaware Dark Blue Bowl: 50 ppm Arsenic (but Lead Free!) Wait. What? Arsenic?

January 3, 2017January 31, 2020

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When tested with an XRF instrument this modern Fiestaware dark blue bowl had the following readings: non-detect (negative) for Lead, non-detect (negative) for Mercury, non-detect (negative) for Cadmium, This dish tested positive for Arsenic at 50 ppm. While I am NOT an expert in Arsenic toxicity and I would imagine it is best not to…

#AskTamara: Does Vintage Fiestaware Have Lead? Does New Fiestaware Have Lead?

January 3, 2017September 3, 2018

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#AskTamara Questions: Does Vintage Fiestaware Have Lead? Does New Fiestaware Have Lead? Answers: Definitely yes & sometimes yes! Below is a vintage teal colored Fiestaware custard cup. When tested with an XRF instrument it was positive for lead (Pb) at 73,500 ppm (seventy three thousand five hundred parts per million.) The only relevant modern standard that…