Tea Archives - Lead Safe Mama

My favorite Lead-free electric kettle – on sale today!

December 10, 2022December 10, 2022

Saturay – December 10, 2022 One of my husband’s favorite Lead-free purchases: https://amzn.to/3iTAMWl (aflink) on sale today with a 7% discount (or clippable online coupon.) Full test results for this product can be found on this link. Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I may…

A good Lead-free choice for the holidays: Glass Tea Pots

November 13, 2022December 9, 2022

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November 13, 2022 – Sunday Just in time for the holidays! Thanks to the work and advocacy of all of you in the Lead Safe Mama community – Tea Bloom removed the Lead-painted logos from their glass tea pots. aflink https://amzn.to/3Etn2d7 #Thanksgiving #LeadFreeThanksgiving #LeadFreeTea #LeadFreeCoffee #LeadFreeTeaPot #TeaPot #TeaKettle Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase…

XRF test results for antique Blue Willow style Transor Ware Japanese porcelain child’s tea set

October 22, 2022May 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 Mama,…

XRF test results for porcelain child’s tea set purchased at a Cracker Barrel store in 2022

October 19, 2022May 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 Mama,…

“Lead Free” FAO Schwarz Ceramic Tea Party Traditional English Set tests positive for Lead & Cadmium (article with details).

October 16, 2022October 16, 2022

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Lead-free claims on the box “Lead free”claims on their website (“Lead free” is mentioned THREE times!). Safety warning that came in the package October 16, 2022 – Sunday XRF test results for the pink polka dot FAO Schwarz tea set pictured are below Well. I had truly hoped that this adorable little tea set would…

Asian teacup with dragon design (Chinese restaurant style, unmarked): 32 ppm Lead + 11 ppm Cadmium (safe by all standards.)

March 7, 2022March 10, 2022

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XRF test results for cup pictured Reading #1) On white of cup 60-second reading Lead (Pb): 32 +/- 4 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 11 +/- 2 ppm Mercury (Hg): non-detect Bromine (Br): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Iron (Fe): 3,968 +/- 95 ppm Zinc (Zn): 39 +/- 6 ppm Niobium (Nb): 286 +/- 8 ppm Indium (In):…

Spode Copeland’s China Floral Pattern Tea Cup – Made in England: 59,500 ppm Lead. Context: 90 ppm and up is unsafe for kids.

September 7, 2021September 12, 2021

Introduction: Tamara Rubin is a Federal award winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and childhood Lead poisoning prevention. 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. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

TeaBloom just sent me an e-mail threatening legal action against me if I don’t remove my video. Read it here.

April 20, 2021October 1, 2023

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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…

Marketed as Lead-Free but painted with Lead Paint: Tea Bloom Glass Teapot, Made in China (video)

April 8, 2021December 19, 2023

4 Comments

New YouTube Video Tonight 4/8/2021 – Thursday Video is at the bottom of the page. Turn up your volume because sound is pretty LOW on this video. Thanks! I will be writing an article with the full XRF test results for the teapot discussed in this short video (below) in the coming days. In the meantime, here’s…

1960s Sango brand (made in Japan) child’s teacup: 2,323 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids] + 292 ppm Arsenic.

November 22, 2019March 20, 2020

When tested with an XRF instrument this Sango teacup (made in Japan) had the following readings: 1) Test focused on silver banding on handle: Lead (Pb): Negative / Non-Detect Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect Gold (Au): 755 +/- 64 ppm…

This is the clear borosilicate glass tea pot I use in my home. Yes, it is Lead-free and stovetop safe!

May 23, 2019May 10, 2023

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Here are the full XRF test results for the clear borosilicate glass teapot I use every day in my home. The picture below also shows one of the clear glass coffee mugs I use every day in my home too! I will make a separate post for that. 180-second test (3 minutes): Barium (Ba): 455 +/-…

One of my most disappointing finds recently: purple 2019 ForLife Q Tea Cup w Handle “lead-free” mug: 541 ppm Lead

May 23, 2019January 21, 2023

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This story is a perfect example of why I hate recommending any mass-produced product!… Earlier this year (2019) I bought a set of these mugs [ ForLife Q Tea Cup with Handle 10 ounce purple mugs ] as a birthday gift for my good friend Carissa (because I had tested a cute unicorn mug of hers…

Johnson Brothers English Greydawn Teacup & Saucer: 37,400+ ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

December 2, 2018March 18, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this Johnson Brothers “Greydawn” teacup & saucer had the following readings when tested with an XRF instrument: Lead (Pb): 37,400 +/- 800 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE. To see more…

Vintage Queen Anne “Country Gardens” Pattern Bone China Teacup: 81,300 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

November 4, 2018March 18, 2019

Please click the link for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Vintage Queen Anne “Country Gardens” Pattern Bone China Teacup. Made in England. When tested with an XRF instrument, this teacup had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 81,300 +/- 2,800 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative/Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect Barium (Ba): Negative/Non-Detect Chromium (Cr): Negative/Non-Detect…

Functional Ceramic Christmas Snowman Teapot: 30,200 ppm Lead

June 24, 2018December 12, 2023

To see more Christmas items I have tested, click HERE. This little Christmas snowman teapot tested positive for Lead (Pb) at 30,200 +/- 900 ppm. The year of manufacture is unknown. This item was tested in 2018 with an XRF instrument. Full XRF Reading (Toxicants): Lead (Pb): 30,200 +/- 900 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect (ND/negative) Arsenic (As): Non-Detect…

“Old Town Blue” Pattern Vintage Pyrex Tea Cup, c.1972 – 1982: 17,700 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

April 19, 2018September 2, 2019

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Vintage Pyrex mugs/ tea cups in the “Old Town Blue” pattern: The dark blue paint on these mugs tested positive for the following elements at the following levels (with a one-minute test, using an XRF instrument): Lead (Pb): 17,700 +/- 500 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 154 +/- 12 ppm Arsenic (As): ND Mercury (Hg): ND…

Vintage Milk Glass Corning Teacup: 804 ppm Lead

January 21, 2018November 11, 2018

This vintage milk-glass “Made in USA” Corning brand tea cup tested positive for lead when tested with an XRF instrument at 804 ppm lead in the white (undecorated) milk glass component of the cup. Tested in 2014. In 2018 the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children…

Child’s toy China Tea Set, Victoria’s Garden: 20,600 ppm Lead

December 24, 2017May 17, 2024

Victoria’s Garden toy China Tea Set: 20,600 ppm Lead (Lemon included to show size!) 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…

Vintage Miniature Tea Set (Made in Taiwan): 14,200 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids) & Cadmiu (which causes cancer!)

December 10, 2017May 17, 2024

Miniature Vintage Ceramic Tea Set. Made in Taiwan. Platter: 66 +/- 20 ppm Lead (Pb). Coffee Pot: 777 +/- 53 ppm Lead (Pb) & 18 +/- 8 ppm Cadmium (Cd). Tiny Creamer: 14,200 +/- 500 ppm Lead (Pb) & 42 +/- 11 ppm Cadmium (Cd). Tiny Teacup: 3,280 +/- 124 ppm Lead (Pb). Tested…

Silver Bordered Vintage China Mug / Tea Cup: 104,700 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

December 3, 2017March 18, 2019

Mug with “silver” border (where your lips would go!) It turns out the “silver” is achieved by using Leaded glaze! Inside of cup is 845 ppm lead, “silver” border is 104,700 ppm Lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2014. I apologize that I did not capture information about the maker or pattern on this…

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…

1972 Handmade Christmas Mug / Teacup: 90,900 ppm Lead + 9,617 ppm Cadmium Too! [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

April 30, 2017May 25, 2019

Vintage Handmade Christmas Mug from 1972: 90,900 ppm Lead (Pb). 9,617 ppm Cadmium (Cd). Read about #CadmiumConcerns here. For Context: the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for children is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint, glaze or coating. Vintage dishes are not regulated. This Christmas cup…

Vintage Clarence Bone China Teacup: 56,700 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

January 14, 2017March 18, 2019

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Clarence Bone China, Made in England, Teacup: 56,700 ppm Lead. For context, the amount of lead that is considered unsafe in newly manufactured items intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, coating or glaze. Antiques and vintage items are not regulated and when selling them (in most…

#SaferChoices: How to choose a Lead-free tea kettle

January 8, 2017November 24, 2023

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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…