Mug Archives - Page 2 of 6

February 2020 Shutterfly mug with red interior: 174 ppm Lead + 569 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen known to cause cancer)

February 27, 2020November 27, 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…

2019 “made in China” ceramic Ikea mug (21963-1 ): Lead-free glaze, 38 ppm Lead in the substrate. Safe by all standards.

February 23, 2020February 24, 2020

4 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the white glazed Ikea mug pictured here had the following two sets of readings: 1.) Ikea mug exterior glaze: 60 second test Zinc (Zn): 28,500 +/- 900 ppm Copper (Cu): 335 +/- 62 ppm Iron (Fe): 650 +/- 168 ppm Vanadium (V): 82 +/- 29 ppm Titanium (Ti): 204 +/- 46 ppm Zirconium (Zr): 15,600 +/- 500 ppm Continue reading below…

2018 Chicago Christkindlmarket Kinder Club commemorative cocoa mug: 19,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

February 11, 2020December 7, 2023

2 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…

2004 Laurel Burch Ceramic Mug by Wine Things of Sonoma: as high as 18,600 ppm Lead (834 ppm Lead on the inside.)

January 31, 2020January 31, 2020

3 Comments

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…

#AskTamara: Which mugs are Lead-free? How can I tell if my mug has unsafe levels of Lead? Which mugs do you use?

December 28, 2019April 23, 2024

212 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…

Bennington Potters blue glazed ceramic coffee mug: LEAD FREE! Really great gift choice! $31.00 (including shipping).

December 18, 2019November 19, 2023

27 Comments

Note: This is NOT a sponsored post and these photos do not do this mug justice. Here is the website for this company: https://www.benningtonpotters.com Does this coffee mug test positive for Lead? NOPE! When tested with an XRF instrument, this blue glazed Bennington Potters mug (made in Bennington, Vermont and purchased online directly from the…

Royal Heritage Fine China mug for Harry & Meghan’s May 19, 2018 wedding: 28,800 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe.

November 20, 2019May 3, 2021

I’m always looking for a way to possibly draw the attention of the Royal Family to the issue of childhood Lead poisoning. After all – they have babies AND they live in old Lead painted houses [and I would wager that if I were invited to their home to do a Healthy Home Consultation, I would…

2019 Sweese brand “Eco-Friendly” & “Lead-Free” ceramic mug: 29 ppm Lead. Note: This is Lead-SAFE by all standards.

November 19, 2019March 26, 2021

14 Comments

This company (Sweese) is obviously doing an excellent job trying to create a completely Lead-free product… however the ceramic mug pictured here (a new mug purchased in 2019 from Sweese) simply is not Lead-FREE. I would classify this as “low-lead“, “almost ‘Lead-free’” , or even “Lead-SAFE” — and accordingly, instead of imprinting the bottom of the mug…

How toxic is YOUR Starbucks Christmas mug? This one has 1,037 ppm Cadmium — a carcinogen (over 40 ppm is illegal*)

November 16, 2019November 29, 2023

8 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…

How much Lead is in YOUR new Starbucks mug? Golden Ceramic Mug: 15,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

November 16, 2019November 29, 2023

13 Comments

This is an ad-free article. To make a contribution to help us keep our most widely-read articles ad-free, click here. Thank you. Introduction: 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…

2018 Starbucks Brown Ceramic Mug: 513 ppm Lead in the brown glaze – inside and outside. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

November 16, 2019November 16, 2019

1 Comment

When tested with an XRF instrument, this 2018 brown-glazed Starbucks-brand mug (purchased new at a Starbucks store in Washington State in 2019) had the following readings: On a part with just the brown glaze: Lead (Pb): 513 +/- 29 ppm Barium (Ba): 2,820 +/- 101 ppm On the unglazed ceramic bottom of the mug: Lead…

Things From Canada – Handmade Look Ceramic Mug: 28 +/- 12 ppm Lead in the substrate (safe by all standards!)

November 12, 2019December 19, 2023

3 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the brown glazed mug pictured here (sent to me by a reader in Canada) had the following readings: 1) On a part with primarily brown glaze: Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect /…

Things from Canada — David’s Tea Lavender Ceramic Mug: 453 ppm Lead (interior) + 86 ppm Cadmium (exterior)

November 12, 2019August 7, 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,…

Made in Canada Goldentop Teslin Yukon Ceramic Mug: 13,100 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids) + 416 ppm Cadmium.

November 12, 2019November 16, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument the Goldentop.Ca mug – made in Canada (sent to me by a reader in Canada) had the following readings: 1) On a part with the scope focused primarily on the decorative elements: Lead (Pb): 13,100 +/- 300 ppm Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): 416 +/- 22 ppm Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect…

Things From Canada – Pfaltzgraff Everyday “Owl Love You Forever” Mug: 38 ppm Lead (safe by all standards!)

November 12, 2019December 10, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this Pfaltzgraff Everyday “Owl Love You Forever” mug (sent to me from a reader in Canada in 2019) had the following readings: On the exterior decorated surface of the mug Specifically focused on the owl’s belly (45+ second reading): Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative…

Canadian Things – 2009 Starbucks Red & White Ceramic Mug: 1,005 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen) + 259 ppm Lead.

November 12, 2019November 12, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this 2009 Red and White Starbucks brand mug (sent to me by a reader in Canada) had the following readings: On a part with just the white glaze: Lead (Pb): 259 +/- 23 ppm Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): 17 +/- 7 ppm Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative…

2019 Cost Plus World Market brown ceramic mug with blue glaze: 39 ppm Lead (safe by all standards.)

November 9, 2019

1 Comment

When tested with an XRF instrument this brown ceramic mug with light blue glaze (“Made in China” and purchased at World Market in November of 2019 for $3.99) had the following readings: XRF test focused on unglazed brown ceramic base of cup: Lead (Pb): 39 +/- 14 ppm (safe by all standards) Chromium (Cr): 1,605 +/-…

1978 Garfield “It’s not a pretty life but somebody has to live it” McDonald’s mug: 99,300 ppm Lead (causes brain damage) + 5,833 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer)

October 11, 2019September 29, 2023

37 Comments

Continue reading below the images of additional cups/mugs/glassware we have tested. Each image below is a direct link to a separate article about that item containing its XRF test results. This piece (about the Garfield mug) is a good overview to help provide context for all of these additional examples. • • • • • • ••…

Portmeirion “The Botanic Garden Circa 1818” Coffee Mug, 1972: 49,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe) + Cadmium too.

August 19, 2019August 19, 2019

5 Comments

I do not know the exact year of manufacture of this piece, however the markings indicated it was made in 1972 or later. It is a Portmeirion piece from the collection marked as “The Botanic Garden Circa 1818” and it also has the date “1972” on the bottom as well as the words “Susan Williams-Ellis”,…

Vintage (year unknown) plastic Rubbermaid mug: Lead-free! If you know what year this was made, please let me know.

August 19, 2019August 19, 2019

16 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the yellow plastic Rubbermaid brand mug pictured here was negative for all of the main toxicants I look for in my work: Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Mercury and Antimony. If you know what year this was made (or if you purchased a similar mug and know what year you purchased…

1969 Avon Milk Glass Charlie Brown Mug: 40,600 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 1,576 ppm Cadmium (40 is illegal)

August 19, 2019December 7, 2023

Below are the full XRF readings (test results) for the vintage milk glass Avon branded Charlie Brown mug (from 1969!) pictured here. Blue painted area of decorative elements (image above) NOTE: areas of worn paint in image above! Lead (Pb): 39,900 +/- 900 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 503 +/- 26 ppm Chromium (Cr): 2,305+/- 147 ppm…

Star Wars Storm Trooper ceramic mug (Dollar Store find): 605 ppm Lead (90 is considered unsafe for kids’ items)

July 14, 2019February 18, 2024

2 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…

Small Blue Enamelware Camping Cup / Espresso Cup: 48 ppm Lead, 63 ppm Arsenic, 137 ppm Antimony – three neurotoxins.

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019

1 Comment

The pictures of this cup demonstrate how it is a perfect example of what regularly eventually happens to enamel cups with normal use. In this instance the chipping of the enamel is happening both on the outside and the inside of the cup (similar to the red one posted earlier). This cup (and it’s red…

Small Red Enamelware Camping Cup / Espresso Cup: 8,851 ppm Cadmium [≥40 ppm is illegal in Washington State]

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019

The pictures of this cup demonstrate how it is a perfect example of what regularly eventually happens to enamel cups with normal use. In this instance the chipping of the very-high-Cadmium-containing enamel is happening both on the outside and the inside of the cup. This cup clearly demonstrates why, in my opinion, enamelware should really…