Off The Record

Ditch Your Retro Corelle Dinnerware ASAP. Here’s Why

Published on October 23, 2024

Thanks to the efforts of a mother who experienced lead poisoning firsthand, the Corelle lead problem is now well recognized.

Tamara Rubin, an independent consumer goods safety advocate, is the mother of four children who suffered from lead poisoning.

In 2019, she tested vintage Tupperware for hazardous levels of lead and other heavy elements using her expertise as a trained XRF analyzer. After the good results of her testing, she promptly started warning customers to discard their old Tupperware.

In her ongoing efforts to check consumer products for elevated levels of heavy metals, she has discovered a new culprit: Corelle Dishware.

Corelle Dishes Contain Lead

The well-known dishware brand, which is notable for its ornamental floral patterns and is renowned for its strength and resistance to shattering, tested positive for lead.

When Rubin checked her personal collection of ornamental plates, she was dismayed to discover that several of the patterns’ paint or glaze included the hazardous heavy metal.

In a series of emails between Rubin and Corelle, Rubin claims a spokesperson for the company confirmed her results, stating that all of their products have been lead-free since the mid-2000s. She also said the brand’s representative attempted to limit the company’s responsibility by stating that “Prior to the 1990s, virtually all glass and ceramic ware made anywhere in the world contained Lead as a primary ingredient in the decorating fluxes and glazes.” [1]

Rubin contends that it is exaggerated to assert that “virtually all” enterprises used lead-based paint, even if many historical dishware brands did.

Although it’s difficult to dispute, this email conversation is by no means a press release or a public admission from the corporation. The image to the right below shows a screenshot that Tamara took of Corelle’s email answer.

On their website, Corelle formally states the following as well:

“All Corelle® stoneware products and glazes are made of clay-based materials and glazes used throughout the industry. Decorations, if present, are made from low-lead enamels and fired at temperatures exceeding 1000 degrees F, which binds any heavy metals both physically and chemically so that their release is minimized.” [2]

The business continues by saying that the Corelle brand has never gone over the 0.100 ppm (or one-tenth of one part per million) level for the amount of leachable lead in its products. They go on to defend the brand by outlining the testing procedure they use for their goods:

“Tests for the presence of heavy metals are conducted for Corelle Brands by internationally certified, third-party laboratories under strict conditions, by trained technicians, and using atomic absorption spectrophotometry analysis following carefully monitored preparation. These steps are necessary to minimize any possibility of contamination or false reading during preparation, testing or analysis.” [2]

The Dangers of Corelle Lead Exposure

When lead particles are inhaled, eaten, or absorbed, exposure to lead occurs. After being absorbed, it is kept in reserve in our tissues, blood, and bones for ongoing internal exposure. Larger levels of lead may be discharged from your bones as you age and your bones start to demineralize, increasing your internal exposure [3, 4].

If you are exposed to high levels of lead over a brief period of time, you may get lead poisoning. Acute lead poisoning symptoms could include:

Pain in the abdomen
Constipation
Fatigue
A headache
The ability to irritate
Appetite loss
Loss of memory
Hand and/or foot pain or tingling
Weakness

Because lead poisoning symptoms develop gradually, it is frequently disregarded as the cause of the issue. Extremely high exposure levels may cause anemia, kidney disease, or brain damage, and this can be potentially fatal.

Long-term exposure to lead can potentially result in lead poisoning. Long-term exposure to lower levels of lead can cause the following symptoms in some people:

Pain in the abdomen
Constipation
Depression
Being distracted
Ignorance
The ability to irritate
Feeling queasy or ill
Chronic exposure could also put you at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and reduced fertility.

Children are Particularly at Risk

Children are typically more susceptible to lead poisoning than adults, as demonstrated in Tamara’s regrettable case. The following symptoms could arise from exposure to the heavy metal:

Developmental delay
Learning difficulties
Irritability
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Sluggishness and fatigue
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Constipation
Hearing loss
Seizures
Eating things, such as paint chips, that aren’t food (pica)

Additional Lead Sources

The United States contains lead and other hazardous heavy metals, such as cadmium, in a number of maybe surprising locations. A 2016 study revealed that some jewelry from well-known Canadian retailers Ardene and Aldo Accessories contained thousands of times more cadmium than is deemed acceptable [5, 6]. Jewelry and cosmetics, especially those intended for children, have been discovered to be frequent offenders. Major U.S. retailers have also been impacted; thus, this issue isn’t limited to these stores.

It has also been discovered that certain imported foods, medications, and candies contain lead.

Older homes may still retain lead-containing paint, even though it hasn’t been sold since the late 1970s. Small pieces of paint may drift through the atmosphere and gather on surfaces in your house. Any outdoor constructions in your yard that were constructed prior to 1978 may fall under this category and may eventually leak into the ground, contaminating your soil [7].

Heavy metals may also be present in toys, especially those that are inexpensive or outdated. This could be especially harmful if your child has a habit of placing the item in their mouth .

How to Limit Your Exposure to Lead

There are numerous strategies to reduce the risk of lead and other heavy metal exposure for you and your family:

Keep it clean. Regularly dusting your home and cleaning surfaces with a wet sponge or rag can wipe up any lead particles that may have accumulated on them.

Remove your shoes. Lead can be tracked in from the outside, so take off your shoes before entering the house.

Wash your hands. This is especially true for young children, who tend to put their hands in their mouths.

Wash frequently. Any item, like a toy, pacifier, or bottle, that frequently goes into your child’s mouth should be washed frequently.

Eat well. People who eat a healthier diet seem to absorb less lead than those who don’t.

Test regularly. Since lead poisoning can be hard to detect, routine testing is the only way to be sure your child hasn’t been affected and is recommended for children under five years old.

You can request a lead test for your home and soil by calling your local health department if you think there may be lead paint in your house or on your land. To find out if any of the toys your child has have been recalled because of contamination, you can also visit www.recalls.gov .

Use Corelle Plates for Decorative Use Only

Although Corelle is currently the industry leader in lead-free dishware, Rubin advises utilizing their plain white items since they are the most reliable lead-free choices. Second, she adds that some colors continue to have positive cadmium tests. Regarding her existing ornamental dishes, the business advised her to utilize them exclusively as ornaments.

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