Concerns about lead in tableware are not new, especially with regard to older and imported ceramics.
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However, a recent video on X has sparked new concerns after user Eric Ritter (@DetectLetter) claimed that some HomeGoods ceramic items were positive for the lead.
In the clip reposted by @mericamemed, Ritter records herself outside the Home Goods Store.
“On all the leads today,” he says. “I’m going to test this home merchandise for leads.”
As he passes through the aisle, he applies the solution to some ceramic plates and dishes. Especially calling brands Grace Tea Wear– And then flashes light on the surface. When the liquid glows green, he insists it means it is positive.
“This is a brand new plate,” he says, and has one item. “This is extremely dangerous to eat.”
Litter also shoots jabs at pricing. “For just $40, you can get a big lead source in your home,” he says.
So, do you really have a lead in these dishes?
The creator claims he scanned “almost every dish” in the restaurant and directed users to his website for a complete list.
But here is the problem. The results are not entirely reliable, and Ritter, the video figure, is also the founder of the company that manufactures the test products he uses.
in fact, fluoro-specthe home-based lead detection toolkit Ritter is producing and using video, in its own Amazon disclaimer, states it is not approved. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to test lead-based paints under federal regulations.
Certain types of lead-based paints, like white lead, can make contact shine, but that doesn’t mean they qualify as a certified test. The disclaimer points out that the EPA only recognizes two kits for this purpose. This is LeadCheck and DLEAD.
So, while the glowing response may seem surprising, it’s more like a general indicator than a confirmed test.
As Experts In many cases, lead testing at home may not be reliable, especially with glass ceramics.
Furthermore, according to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some imported or hand-painted dishes may contain lead in the glaze drug. However, modern, mass-produced tableware for sale in the US is regulated for safety reasons.
Still, the FDA recommends avoiding chips or cracked dishes and not using labeled food-safe items.
Household goods? Like a lead product pic.twitter.com/ahdevzcgup
– MericaMemed (@mericamemed) April 20, 2025
In the comments, users quickly questioned the validity of the test and questioned the creator’s claims.
“It looks like a bull[expletive] XRF (X-ray fluorescent) scans are not performed on flashlights,” one user wrote, referring to the tools the creator appears to be using in the video.
Another pointed out how suspicious it was that almost everything tested “positive” against the lead. “If all tests are positive, there is a much greater chance that the test is flawed,” they write.
The third time he joked about the broader meaning, writing, “This would explain the current state of the country’s discourse.”
Daily Dot contacted Ritter and Homegoods via email for official comments.
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