Nearly all of us have a set of Corelle dinnerware in the cupboard. It may have been purchased after a 1970s kitchen update or kept on hand since the kids were born in the 1980s…….it is unbreakable, after all. For some, it feels like a member of the family. However, that lengthy life span might also work against some of these pieces. Before the FDA placed regulations on how much lead could be used in tableware, plenty of companies used lead-based paints on their products, including Corelle. So, if you have a set of dishes made before 1980 and the paint is leaching — chipping or flaking off and mixing in with your food — you might be consuming lead along with your food. Corelle products purchased after 2005 are safe and comply with FDA regulations. If you have dishes that are older, it gets a little trickier. You’ll want to avoid eating off older Corelle dinnerware if it’s showing obvious signs of deterioration. To make sure you’re not consuming lead, avoid eating hot foods on the dishes or drinking hot beverages from old cups, and don’t put them in the microwave or store food in them for long periods of time. How can you be absolutely sure that your Corelle is safe to use? Lead Safe Mama tested Corelle pieces, and you can check your pattern at this site. In the end, if your concerned, it’s probably best to put the dishes in a display cabinet and replace them with newer, safer designs.
