I've even heard NOT to use cheap lead based dishes for your pets. I'm using Le Creuset au gratin dishes for my cats to eat out of. Plain white, no color. Should be safe. I don't own China.

I saw a set of china I thought was pretty, Google says Royal Doulton and other china from decades ago may have lead which can leach.

Using test kit as Patricia suggested is the safest choice, but you might check websites like LeadFreeMama to see if that specific pattern has been tested.

Very good idea Fun2BHere. I forgot about that site. I had forgotten about the children's dishes. There was a big deal about that a few years ago. Those adorable bunny plates that people gave at baby showers back in the day.

patriciae

Thank you. The site specifically mentions older Royal Doulon china. And the Bunnykin plates are a Royal Doulton product.

I use stainless steel water and kibble bowls for my cats, and they get their wet food on paper plates.

As I said above I think the important thing is china with the decorations on top of the glaze. Lead makes for more intense colors but you know they knew better. The more infamous Mexican pottery is very low fire clay where the glaze itself has lead in it in addition to any colored bits. You can get their colorful fun pottery that does not have lead though. I would always test.

patriciae

Is there a compelling reason or need to take a chance when the potential risk is so easily avoided?

I would always test.

Good idea. I'm passing on the Doulton, though.

I was surprised to read that evern Corelle styles have or had lead. The plain white appears to be safe, which is what we have. I have a very old set of Noritake, about 100 years old, that I like to use for special spring meals. I will test it. But we use it so rarely. i forgot to get it out for Easter, it would have been perfect.

I was feeling smug to read the problem is in 'older china' until I remembered my wedding china is now 46 years old. It's used about once a year. I'm not worried. Especially as its solid white with a tiny gold rim that doesnt touch food.

Some clear glazes used on vintage and antique porcelain and china also contained lead.

The problem is not only in older china. There are places in the world where there aren't regulations about lead content. And of course, current consumer safety here may not be as well enforced if budgets to do so are slashed.

" current consumer safety here may not be as well enforced if budgets to do so are slashed. "

I recall reading news pieces not long ago that inspections of inbound consumer goods have never been at a level higher than the mid-single digits. Meaning, minuscule. The enforcement of rules was never more than perfunctory and ineffective. A decrease in an already teeny number doesn't have too far to sink.

Do you have other information? Is there any support for the substance of your comment or is it simply one with a political underpinning? There have been a few of those on this forum lately.

Since the OP question has been answered, I'll add that there are heavy metals in the Le Creuset bright colors, but the sand or black interiors are, they say, free of them. Before the big lead in dishes scandals, IIRC, public school pottery classes had lead glazes. Nowadays, there is lead-free solder but it requires a hotter temperature and some people prefer to still work with lead. Bright colored glass has lead too, so don't go licking your Tiffany style lampshade…

“…too, so don't go licking your Tiffany style lampshade…”

Well darn, plllog…sure puts a damper on on my plans today!🤭😋

Puts a whole new spin on 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'

Yikes, I did stained glass for awhile, I know the solder had lead in it. I hope I washed my hands well after! (We just bought a new LeCreuset today, and now I am wondering about my Dansk cooking dishes and pitchers. White interiors but bright colors outside. I’d better get another test kit.)

You're fine if the metals are outside. It's ingesting acidic foods that come into direct contact with the heavy metals that's the problem, and finger-licking up an occasional drip from the outside shouldn't be an issue either.

I did stained glass too. Quilting is safer--not because of the rarity of lead-weighted silk, but because the sharp needle pricks are so much less painful and bloody than the cuts of tiny shards of glass. :)

Chloebud--so sorry about your day, but the sun is shining and there surely must be some outdoor fun to be had that doesn't require any lampshade licking.

The sun did help!👍🏻☀️

I have some lead-crystal wine glasses, but I do not use them every day. I also have a crystal decanter, but I don't know whether it contains lead or not. I do not use it for long term storage because the stopper is not air-tight.

My favorite dishes were Crazy Daisies by Corelle--we had them growing up. I was going to buy a set vintage but decided not to do to the lead.

It is the storing of alcohol that causes leaching in glass wear.. That takes some time. So don't keep your brandy in long term storage in that crystal decanter but otherwise the risk is the young mostly. Humanity has survived a long time with lead.

patriciae