Vintage Kitchenware Archives

More than 4 years later and still no recall or public statement from Tupperware! Sign the petition!

October 31, 2023May 15, 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…

Your grandmother does not want you poisoning your kids in her memory — chuck grandma’s toxic kitchenware! Vintage / antique metal potato ricer with red Lead-painted handles: >12% Lead!

April 29, 2022April 30, 2022

Friday – April 29, 2022 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lead Poisoning Prevention (@leadsafemama) This vintage kitchenware tool tested positive for *FOUR* metallic toxicants! When tested using XRF technology this piece of…

Vintage dinner knife with red and yellow Bakelite handle — 760,500 ppm Lead in the join point

July 19, 2021December 26, 2023

1 Comment

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…

Stop using your vintage Tupperware NOW. These measuring cups are positive for 2,103 ppm Lead + 250 ppm Arsenic.

December 28, 2019November 13, 2023

383 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…

Please avoid vintage Tupperware. This is a kid’s 6 oz. cup. It’s positive for 876 ppm Lead, 331 ppm Cadmium, + Arsenic.

May 23, 2019August 10, 2023

58 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…

Want some poison with your lemonade? Vintage Tupperware pitcher: 18 ppm Lead, 225 ppm Cadmium, 30 ppm Mercury.

May 5, 2019May 5, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage Tupperware brand orange plastic skinny juice / lemonade pitcher had the following readings: Orange Plastic of the Container: Lead (Pb): 18 +/- 4 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 225 +/- 11 ppm Mercury (Hg): 30 +/- 7 ppm Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect Barium (Ba): 438 +/- 87 ppm Chromium (Cr):…

Remember licking this after mom frosted a cake? Vintage Tupperware Cake Decorator: 1,283 ppm Lead (90 is toxic)

May 5, 2019August 10, 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…

#AskTamara: How can I tell if my vintage Tupperware plastic cups are toxic? By Color? By Shape? By Age?

March 17, 2019December 28, 2019

84 Comments

New post! First in a series of four that I will be doing to try to draw some distinctions between the Tupperware pieces WITH toxicants (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic) and those without. If you have any information or links to help inform this conversation (for example information about years made for certain model numbers?)…

Press Release: Toxicants (Lead, Cadmium, Mercury & Arsenic) Found In Vintage Tupperware

March 16, 2019March 16, 2019

Press release is the second image, below the embedded Facebook post. Please share with any press contact you might have. Thank you. (Click the image of the press release to see the full-size PDF with clickable links.) For all of the posts related to this press release, click here. _____________________________________ Original Facebook Post: _______________________________________________________

Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand (Made In USA) Coffee Cup: 299,800 ppm [30%!] Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)

January 25, 2019

39 Comments

Ceramic “Hull” Made In USA “Oven Proof” Coffee Cup. When tested with an XRF instrument this cup had the following readings (each test done for a minimum of 60 seconds.) Exterior Brown of Cup Lead (Pb): 120,700 +/- 5,000 ppm Barium (Ba): 498 +/- 145 ppm Selenium (Se): 158 +/- 77 ppm Iron (Fe): 17,300…

Duchess Bone China Saucer, Made In England – Rose Pattern: 70,900 ppm Lead

November 4, 2018

Please click the link below for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Duchess Bone China Saucer, Made In England – Rose Pattern: 49,000 ppm Lead When tested with an XRF instrument, this dish had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 70,900 +/- 2,300 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative/Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect Barium (Ba): 269…

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…

Vale Saucer Made in Longton England: 54,600 ppm Lead. 90 ppm Lead is considered unsafe in items used by kids.

November 4, 2018September 1, 2019

Please click the link for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Vale Saucer Made in Longton, England. Floral Pattern (pattern name not marked on piece). When tested with an XRF instrument, this saucer had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 54,600 +/- 1,600 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative/Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect Barium (Ba): Negative/Non-Detect…

Vintage Johnson Brothers Fish Plate (Design No. 3), Made in England: 70,800 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids)

November 2, 2018March 13, 2024

Please click the link for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Vintage “Fish” dinner plate by Johnson Brothers, “Made in England” “Design No. 3” “A genuine hand engraving” “All decoration under the glaze. Detergent & acid resisting colour.” For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning…

Vintage “Horizon Blue” Pattern Pyrex Casserole. c. 1969-1972: 72,000 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids’ items.]

April 19, 2018September 2, 2019

3 Comments

This vintage “Horizon Blue” casserole by Pyrex tested positive for the following elements at the following levels (on the painted exterior design with a one-minute test, using an XRF instrument): Lead (Pb): 72,000 +/- 2,200 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 33 +/- 11 ppm Arsenic (As): ND Mercury (Hg): ND Gold: (Au) 504 +/- 170 ppm…

Vintage stand hand citrus juicer: 2,254 ppm Lead on the bare metal food contact surface. 90 ppm is unsafe for children.

December 28, 2017April 22, 2020

8 Comments

Vintage countertop stand hand juicer. No mark or maker noted. The corroding deteriorating gray metal part that touches the orange while it is being juiced was positive for lead at 2,254 ppm. The white enamel part was positive for lead at 168 ppm. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in the paint or…

#Leaded: Vintage Unmarked White Enamel Cooking Pot

December 19, 2017August 20, 2022

3 Comments

Tested in 2014. This pot was positive for 463 ppm lead when tested with an XRF instrument. Age and maker are unknown. Most vintage enamelware is high lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is 90 ppm lead and higher (90 and up for coatings, 100 and…

Vintage 1950s Silverware, Blossom Time: Lead-free! Vintage (but not antique!) sterling silver is generally a safe choice.

March 28, 2017March 4, 2020

12 Comments

Originally written: March 28, 2017 Updated: March 3, 2020 A little personal story about the silverware pictured here. My husband’s mother died of a very aggressive form of lung cancer when he was just 18 years old (c. 1976.). As a result, I never met my mother-in-law – and my children never had her as…

Would you like some lead (or cadmium or arsenic) with that ice cream?

February 2, 2017January 11, 2022

2 Comments

Vintage Ice Cream Scoop. Metal: 28 ppm lead – considered safe by all standards. Red Plastic Handle: 3,091 ppm cadmium / 26 ppm Arsenic. — Most ice cream scoops I have tested (especially the vintage ones) have tested positive for at least some lead with an XRF. For #SaferChoices in ice cream scoops for your…

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…

#LeadedKitchen: Vintage Ceramic Mixing Bowls

January 14, 2017

Vintage – unmarked mixing bowls – 9180 ppm lead – cracked & crazing. Not regulated. 90 ppm is considered toxic in a child’s toy. Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For LEAD FREE mixing bowl choices, click HERE. For more safer choices in kitchenware options, click here. Note: I am not saying…

Vintage 1970s Era Cereal Bowl: 134,100 ppm Lead

January 14, 2017November 2, 2018

Please click the link for help making safer choices for your family. Vintage (1970s?) cereal bowl: 134,100 ppm lead (yikes!) when tested with an XRF instrument. For context: when testing is done with an XRF instrument, the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item made today and intended for use…