Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe? in Category-Specific Boards in Community

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Last Post Nov 12, 2009 5:59 PM by: barrister9

Replies: 11

Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 10, 2009 7:15 PM

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Hi all,

I've been more interested in mid-century modern lately, and I saw several great orange serving pieces, in both ceramic and plastic. I pictured using them for Thanksgiving and Christmas -- then I pictured giving everyone lead poisoning.

Are older red and orange glazes safe to use? Anyone know about the plastics of the mid-century era? I found this link, but what do the experts here think?

Shawn

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 10, 2009 8:09 PM

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Goodness, I thought we'd put those myths to bed years ago!

Good article, by the way, and it clearly explains that minimal exposure to lead or uranium is not a big deal.

The only concern I have about using old dishes is when they are cracked, chipped or worn, such that foods or beverages may come in contact with what's UNDER the glaze. I would particularly avoid placing alcohol or acidic foods or liquids in or on cracked, chipped dinnerware. As noted in the article, I would also avoid using the dishes (cracked or not) as storage containers.

Beyond that, I've used pre-1940 dinnerware daily for the past 22 years or so -- with no ill effects.

~~C~~

My Glass Duchess

To eBay, I think we hover somewhere between loathed, tolerated, and ignored.

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 10, 2009 9:04 PM

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Shawn:
I'm more concerned about the lead in dinnerware imported from China! I collect Melmac and have thousands of pieces; I use it every day and other than an insatiable urge to get more Melmac I've seen no bad health effects. :^O

:^O

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 11, 2009 2:32 AM

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If you live in certain parts of this country, you'd get more radiation from the underlying substrate.

duchess speaks much wisdom.

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 11, 2009 3:46 AM

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I know a bit about pottery (nothing about plastics). Vintage, commercial American-made ceramics generally do not leach significant amounts of lead. Lead poisoning cases in adults usually have come from pottery-class amateur products or from imports. HOWEVER -- children are more susceptible than adults to lead poisoning and probably should not be served food or beverages using lead-glazed ware. Lead glazes do not have to be cracked or "crazed" to leach lead; many acidic foods and beverages will cause leaching from an intact glaze. Concerning red, orange, and some other glazes which contain uranium -- some experts conclude that they are hazardous, others conclude that they are not. I am not aware of any verified cases of illness from uranium glazes but because they omit beta particles the potential is there. Ironically, uranium-glazed ceramics made before WWII are less radioactive than those made in the 1960s and 1970s. Personally, I use contemporary ceramics WHICH ARE NOT MADE IN CHINA for food and drink and use the vintage stuff for decoration. Here are some links: Hazards In Ceramics Release of uranium and emission of radiation from uranium-glazed dinnerware (summary) General Information About Uranium in Ceramics Uranium In Fiesta Ware

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 11, 2009 6:15 AM

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Personally, I use contemporary ceramics WHICH ARE NOT MADE IN CHINA

You can't always tell: a lot of Doulton is made in China, now.

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 11, 2009 8:15 AM

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Thanks, all.

I'm going to try to control myself and not buy these pieces. I really should save my money, and I would think a tray of olives at a party might actually absorb some of the pretty-but-not-good-to-eat chemicals. And I have little kids, so ...

Plus, I have the same problem as Kelly -- I'll just want to buy more and more and more and more and ... well, my pictures in the I think I'm officially a pottery junkie, and proud of it thread say it all.

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 11, 2009 6:05 PM

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ownedbybear wrote:

Personally, I use contemporary ceramics WHICH ARE NOT MADE IN CHINA

You can't always tell: a lot of Doulton is made in China, now.

Tsk, tsk. Our day to day dishes are Corelle, which is still made in the USA, as is Fiesta, and our better dishes are made at a mom-and-pop pottery in Seagrove, NC. It pays to read the fine print on just about anything you purchase these days.

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 11, 2009 7:34 PM

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I don't think Corelle is made in the US any more.
In fact, if I'm not mistaken, Corningware was sold a few years ago and is not the same at all.

I find it interesting that our parents and grandparents survived eating off those dishes for so many years. As did we.

As stated. Don't store your acidic foods in them and watch for chipped and cracked dishes.

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Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 12, 2009 2:40 AM

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barrister9 wrote:

ownedbybear wrote:

Personally, I use contemporary ceramics WHICH ARE NOT MADE IN CHINA

You can't always tell: a lot of Doulton is made in China, now.

Tsk, tsk. Our day to day dishes are Corelle, which is still made in the USA, as is Fiesta, and our better dishes are made at a mom-and-pop pottery in Seagrove, NC. It pays to read the fine print on just about anything you purchase these days.

Indeed it does. But I'm not in the US. And even though Doulton may say England, it isn't always made there.

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 12, 2009 5:09 AM

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clutteredcloset49 wrote:

I find it interesting that our parents and grandparents survived eating off those dishes for so many years. As did we.

Somewhat true, but I grew up on Corelle, as did my parents. And with ebay, I could easily build a collection of all of the hottest orange dishes. How many people really ate day after day on bright orange, mid-century dishes?

You know how it is -- if there's a risk to kids, then I can't do it. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to put them in their plastic safety bubbles and get them to school.

Re: Pottery and (gasp!) plastic: Are the old reds and oranges food safe?

Nov 12, 2009 5:59 PM

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clutteredcloset49 wrote:

I don't think Corelle is made in the US any more.
In fact, if I'm not mistaken, Corningware was sold a few years ago and is not the same at all.

I find it interesting that our parents and grandparents survived eating off those dishes for so many years. As did we.

As stated. Don't store your acidic foods in them and watch for chipped and cracked dishes.

Corelle tableware is still manufactured in Corning, New York. The Corelle brand is owned by World Kitchen, LLC, and some items sold under the Corelle label -- cups, primarily -- are made in Asia. But the plates and bowls are made in USA. Many retailers advertise country of origin.

Links:

Corelle

Cooking-dot-com

Wallymart

Cooking-dot-com with Chinese made cups

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