Do Old Corelle Dishes Really Contain Lead?

This is one of the most popular dished and has been in production since around 1970. Many people use this Corelle pattern for cottages, school dorms, and every day because it’s lightweight, sturdy, and can take some abuse. This Corelle ceased using any lead in its pattern about 2005 so if you have a set of Corelle dishes that are after this year, they are probably safe to use.

There is a new lead scare circulating the internet.

There is a new lead scare circulating the internet, but what makes this one different? It’s not just anyone who fell victim to the scare—it’s someone who has been using Corelle dishes for over 40 years! That’s right, a woman found out that her beloved Corelle dishes contained lead. She was using them for so long that she didn’t even know they were made with dangerous materials. How did this happen?

The answer lies in the fact that she was using dishes made before the United States enacted laws regulating lead content in dishware back in 1971. Corelle products from before then had higher levels of lead than anything you’d find today. When these older pieces broke or chipped, some of their contents were released into food and drink consumed on them, exposing users like our friend here (who we’ll call “Sandy”) to potentially harmful amounts of lead over time.

Because of all the lead scares that are circulating the internet, I decided to do my research and find out if Corelle dishes, which have been so popular for over 40 years, contain lead or not.

What is Vitrified Porcelain?

This is a type of porcelain that has been high-temperature fired and vitrified. Vitrified means that it won’t absorb stains or odors and can be used in the microwave without any leaching. Corelle dishes are made with this kind of porcelain.

How Safe Are New Corelle Dishes?

You don’t need to worry about using your new (after 2005) Corelle dishes anymore! If you have been wondering if they contain lead or not, then let me tell you that there are no studies indicating that they do, so you can use them with peace of mind! Corelle itself has said many times on its website and in other publications like advertisements for example, that its products have never contained lead, plasticizers (phthalates), cadmium, or other harmful substances. So if anyone tells you differently then ask them where they got their information from because it’s false!

It May Be Best To Assume That the Old Corelle Dishes You Own Have Lead in the Painted Patterns

While the newer Corelle dishes are safe to use and enjoy, it’s also important to know that there is a possibility that your older dish might contain lead. And so, as with any other major purchase you make in life (including buying a car), you should be diligent about checking the product for anything out of the ordinary.

The best way to do this is by doing your own research into whether or not Corelle-branded dishes contain lead—and if they do have any traces of it, how much.

You can start by simply searching “how much lead is in old Corelle dishes” on Google. You’ll find plenty of articles written about the topic along with some helpful tips for identifying whether or not your vintage collection may be at risk for containing unsafe amounts of lead.

If you’re not sure where else online might provide information about these kinds of things (and don’t want to wait until even later down this article), just head over here to this report: 18 Articles Covering The Controversial Topic of Lead In Older Corelle Dishes

Here you’ll find links like: “Can I get my old dishes tested?” “What does an acceptable level mean?” etc., which will help guide those looking for answers towards what seems appropriate at first glance when considering their options moving forward with their purchases today.”

The earliest patterns were discontinued in 2005, but they did reuse some patterns and names which makes it even more confusing to figure out the actual age of certain plates and bowls.

The earliest lead baring patterns were discontinued in 2005, but they did reuse some patterns and names which makes it even more confusing to figure out the actual age of certain plates and bowls.

The best way to determine if your Corelle is old or new is by comparing the manufacturer markings on your pieces with those on our list of discontinued dishes. If you find a match between your marks and any one of those listed, then you know that your dish was made before 2005 at least.

What year did Corelle stop using lead?

Corelle has been in business since 1970, and they’ve always been a leader in dishware. A lot of people are surprised to learn that Corelle had actually stopped using lead-based glaze on its dishes for more than a decade prior to the news hitting the mainstream media. As it turns out, the announcement by Attorneys General in New York and California was not so much about the safety of your family as it was making sure you are aware that you can find dishes that are safer than what you currently own.

So when did Corelle stop using lead? The company made a complete switch from their standard clear glaze in 2005 when they released their “new look” pattern (it looks like this). In fact, if you do any sort of research on old Corelle plates or storage pieces—like if your parents gave them away after moving or perhaps rescued them from an estate sale. The good news is that newer versions have no traces of lead whatsoever!

A recipe from 1978 includes a picture of several Corelle dishes in the pattern called Autumn Harvest.

The recipe is from 1978, so this is a good time to look at the photo. The pattern of these dishes is called Autumn Harvest. It was available in red, yellow, and blue.

The dishes in the photo are Corelle dishes made from Vitrelle glass which doesn’t contain lead or cadmium and has been used since 1972 by Corning Glass Works (aka Corelle).

As you can see from this blog post about Corelle dishware that I found on Pinterest, Corelle dishes have been used for over 50 years without any reports of health problems due to lead leaching or chemicals leaching out into food during cooking times. In fact, there are many people who still use their old set today because they think it’s better quality than other brands!

Are Corelle dishes toxic?

Are New Corelle dishes toxic? No, they are not.

Corelle dishes are made from glass that is patented by a company called Vitrelle. This glass is a combination of tempered soda-lime glass and an acrylic polymer that gives it its strength. The acrylic polymer is what gives Corelle its strength, not lead or cadmium as many people believe.

This issue of lead in dishes revolves around health. In order to be considered toxic you must have more than 5mg/kg of lead in your bloodstream and any amount over 40mg/kg is dangerous for children because their bodies cannot process it properly (according to the EPA website). If you look at the actual test results done by Consumer Reports you will see that there was no detectable amount of lead present in any of their samples (their lowest measurement being 0.1ppb).

Most Corelle Dishes are free of any lead contamination and are safe to use.

Corelle dishes sold today are free of any lead contamination and are safe to use. However, this does not apply to all pieces, as some older products may contain high levels of lead. If you’re concerned about your dishware, there are a seek out sources showing if your pattern has possible lead contamination:

Conclusion

Most Corelle dishes that you own are safe to use and free of any lead contamination. The ones to look out for are the earlier patterns made in the 1970s. If you still have some of these, you might want to get them tested by a lab, or just use them for decreation just to be sure they’re safe.