Do you know if your dishes are lead-free?

[Beauchamp]

I bought mine in Chinatown in NYC a few years ago (and they were expensive ) because I loved the pattern. They're made in Japan, and had a Japanese sticker on them (i.e. not a brand name I could look up.) Lately I've been on a "lead kick" after reading a few posts. How can I *know* my plates are lead-free? The home test kits seem to be unreliable, right?

In a perfect world I'd love to invest in a good set of plates that I *know* are lead free, but I'm not sure my DH would go for me replacing everything just because *maybe* it has lead. It would be a heck of a lot easier if people weren't allowed to make products with toxins in them!!!! I always think I am doing the better thing by serving my DD on my regular plates even if I worry about them breaking, versus plastic or something, but if there is lead, then....sigh.

Help?

[cristeen]

Do they have a makers mark on them? Can you try googling a description of the design?

In CA, dishes that contain lead must be clearly labeled on the shelf. So when we were shopping for new dishes, that was something to look for. If you can find the mfg info on your dishes and find a distributor, you can always ask them whether the dishes must carry warning labels in CA.

[SubliminalDarkness]

Yes. But all our dishes are a well known brand that is known for it's quality. Honestly, they weren't that expensive. We bought seconds on sale. 

[34me]

I only have Fiestaware, so yes, I know they are lead free.

[babygirlie]

I was at the dollar store and was about to buy a bowl when I noticed a very worn sticker on the flat of the shelf, very small. I moved some stuff out of the way and it said prohibited from being sold in california do to cancer causing material!!!  I bought glass bowls instead but still wonder what they could hae mixed in there :( Had no idea people on any level would think it's ok to sell cancer causing dishes :(

Edited by babygirlie - 5/4/11 at 3:24pm

[marimara]

yeah, this is why I went to clear glass dishes until I can afford more Fiestaware.  I am slowly building up my collection of Fiesta, which is lead free.  So right now I have a mix of glass and Fiesta, quite pretty actually .

[mattemma04]

There are lead tests you could buy  and swab the dishes.Not sure how accurate the tests are though!

[les_oiseau]

Originally Posted by babygirlie 

I was at the dollar store and was about to buy a bowl when I noticed a very worn sticker on the flat of the shelf, very small. I moved some stuff out of the way and it said prohibited from being sold in california do to cancer causing material!!!  I bought glass bowls instead but still wonder what they could hae mixed in there :( Had no idea people on any level would think it's ok to sell cancer causing dishes :(

I am always tempted to pick up a couple coffee mugs at the dollar store cause we keep loosing ours, then I realize hey! this is only a dollar! God knows what's in them.

I bought our dishes at Goodwill a long time ago and am afraid to buy anything else honestly, cause I don't know what's safe. Will have to check out fiestaware

[skreader]

I don't know if my dishes are lead free and I don't worry about it.

[sweetpeppers]

Originally Posted by skreader 

I don't know if my dishes are lead free and I don't worry about it.

 

[swd12422]

Originally Posted by skreader 

I don't know if my dishes are lead free and I don't worry about it.

I saw this and my first thought was, why WOULDN'T you care about that?? Then I realized she's right. Whatever lead is in your dishes will not leach into your food at anywhere near detectable levels unless you store food on them. So if you're worried about lead, the thing to worry about is your cooking and storage stuff, not what you eat off. That said, don't take a plate from the dinner table, toss a piece of plastic wrap over it, and put it in the fridge for leftovers. Anything that's in contact with the food/drinks for less than an hour or two won't hurt anything.