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Apparently KitchenAid stand mixer attachments contain lead 😭

Happy Camper

By Happy Camper,
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Happy Camper

Happy Camper

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The white dough hook and paddle have been found to contain high levels of lead, according to at least one study (see below). I'm just learning about this, so please tell me this isn't real. I'm picturing all the times my kids have liked cookie dough or cake batter off of my paddle over the years - and liked thoroughly, of course. Here's an excerpt from the website linked below (sorry so big, I'm on my phone):

Do KitchenAid Mixers Have Lead?

Attorneys believe it’s not the mixers themselves that could contain lead, but the cast aluminum attachments that come default on the appliances, such as the dough hooks and paddles.

KitchenAid’s stainless steel attachments, on the other hand, are suspected to be lead free. Unfortunately, these must be purchased separately and at an additional cost, meaning consumers would need to go out of pocket to obtain potentially safer mixing components.

To help mitigate this cost, some have used research performed by award-winning consumer safety advocate Tamara Rubin, also known as the “Lead Safe Mama,” to request KitchenAid replace their cast aluminum attachments with “[l]lead-free stainless steel options” for free.  

Out of the hundreds of KitchenAid mixer attachments reportedly tested by Rubin, “nearly all” were found to be contaminated with lead.

In one example, a KitchenAid dough hook reportedly tested positive for lead at a level of 2,434 parts per million (ppm). For reference, the Consumer Product Safety Commission states that products used by children, a group particularly susceptible to the health effects of lead exposure, must not contain more than 100 ppm of total lead content in “accessible parts.”

According to the World Health Organization, however, “there is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects.”

https://www.classaction.org/kitchenaid-lead-mixer-lawsuit

I haven't tried calling to see about getting them replaced. Anyone else heard about this? 

20230124_181256.jpg

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Spy Car

Spy Car

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I asked Siri to remind me to call KitchenAid tomorrow, otherwise I might forget.

Siri is going to say "call kitchenette," but I'm hoping that I understand what that means. Oh dear.

Thanks for the heads up.

I can imagine the conversation one I give them the serial number:

Sir, do you know what year that machine was made?

I dunno, it's been awhile.

I should say so.

Let me guess, before you were born?

Most certainly, sir.

Bill

 

 

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Annie G

Annie G

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I’ve heard reports that folks have called to get a replacement and KA isn’t replacing them. As of now, this ‘recall’ isn’t from KA, it’s just people posting the number saying to call them for replacement.  THe KA website has a section for recalls and this isn’t mentioned at all. 
Also read that there’s a class action lawsuit being put together. Starting to think the lawyers are trying to drum up some concern to boost their case. 

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Happy Camper

Happy Camper

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5 minutes ago, Annie G said:

I’ve heard reports that folks have called to get a replacement and KA isn’t replacing them. As of now, this ‘recall’ isn’t from KA, it’s just people posting the number saying to call them for replacement.  THe KA website has a section for recalls and this isn’t mentioned at all. 
Also read that there’s a class action lawsuit being put together. Starting to think the lawyers are trying to drum up some concern to boost their case. 

Yes, I saw that too. Reading the comments on that second link I posted, sounds like in early to mid December, KA was replacing them with stainless steel ones for free, but then switched to offering a 20-30% discount along with a script that they have tested the parts and have deemed them to be safe. Oh, and wait times when calling can be up to an hour. @Spy Carplease update if you call. 

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Happy Camper

Happy Camper

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7 minutes ago, fraidycat said:

Same question. I have a "pro" model or something like that. The bowl lifts up to the machine instead of the stand tilting down to the bowl.

This is from that second link I posted, so just because it's "silver" doesn't necessarily mean that it's stainless steel. Might want to look up the model and see if it is mentioned in the product description. 

Here’s the original overview post link, for those who missed it (below) – and I also want to reiterate this issue (of the cast-Aluminum attachments that come with most KitchenAid stand mixers being contaminated with Lead) is for ALL YEARS and ALL MODELS. The version of the whisk that normally comes with the units has a stainless “balloon” – but the top “nut” is normally made of Lead-contaminated cast Aluminum. If you have KitchenAid attachment paddles and dough hooks that came with your stand mixer, and if you did not expressly buy the stainless ones, they are highly likely to be made of Lead-contaminated cast-Aluminum (probably 99% of the ones I have tested – from all years (historic and current) have been positive for Lead) – which can be a problem IF the white or gray plastic coating chips (if you have the coated ones), or IF you got the gross burnished / bare metal ones [that turn black over time], which leave gray streaks in your batter / dough.

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Spryte

Spryte

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1 hour ago, Lady Florida. said:

I'm not saying they don't have unsafe lead levels. They very well might or might not. However, in no possible way does that count as a "study".

I agree. Not a study.

We will probably just replace ours with stainless now, though. 

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Happy Camper

Happy Camper

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6 hours ago, prairiewindmomma said:

Between this and the Pyrex and Instant Pot lead issues, I just ordered a ton of lead testing strips. Ugh.

I hadn't heard about Pyrex or Instant Pot. Please elaborate. But I was thinking of trying lead test kits too. 

2 minutes ago, TexasProud said:

Yeah, I am not willing to make a decision based on one person's website.  I need better proof than that.

Well, that's why I posted, hoping others had more information to share. I've always found the boardies to be very informed. But I thought there was enough here to cause concern, and figured KA users might want to look into this themselves. I would be delighted to learn this is not a concern. 

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itsheresomewhere

itsheresomewhere

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Posted (edited)

So apparently someone on another site did some digging.  This person is leading the class action lawsuit.  I wouldn’t be surprised as I have noticed her site before jump on a band wagon only to be not true.  Kitchen aid does not have a recall nor is it replacing it for free.  

Edited by itsheresomewhere
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prairiewindmomma

prairiewindmomma

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59 minutes ago, Indigo Blue said:

Those asking about the Instant Pot

https://kitchensnitches.com/instant-pot-the-non-toxic-pressure-cooker-are-they-safe/

This. I still use my instant pot, but I had occasionally been allowing my hands to touch the heating element when we had had drips on it. Now I am careful to use a paper towel.

I can’t find the statement on Corelle’s website (they have a link but it won’t pull up), but basically all pre-2000 vintage Pyrex should be used as “decorative” pieces only. There was a huge wave of news stories for about a week that the story broke. Here’s one of them: https://www.wcnc.com/amp/article/news/verify/dishes-safe-eat-lead-verify-charlotte/275-11203dfa-ed85-40c7-91db-f02fcd35af1d

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prairiewindmomma

prairiewindmomma

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My concern is that cumulative small exposures from a number of places is not good. It’s kind of like smoking…a few cigarettes on one day once in your lifetime is not likely to be harmful. A few cigarettes every day over 60 years is likely to be harmful.

Simply Orange and PFAS: https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/19/simply-orange-juice-coca-cola-pfas-class-action-lawsuit Here is another story this week about PFAS where we don’t expect it. 
 

If we are having small exposures lots of places to PFAS, lead, and cadmium, our cumulative toxicity burden becomes higher….

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itsheresomewhere

itsheresomewhere

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I have a hobby in old vintage dishes.  The glass pryex is not the ones they talk about.  I actually lead test those as I use them.  Personally, I will keep using my instant pot along with the Pyrex.  
 

Now interesting- a friend has two young kids who had high lead levels.  They couldn’t figure it out as the dishes, dirt, house was fine. After I suggested they test the toys, bingo that was the source.   I do wish lead in toys especially new ones was talked about more.  

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Lady Florida.

Lady Florida.

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11 minutes ago, itsheresomewhere said:

So apparently someone on another site did some digging.  This person is leading the class action lawsuit.  I wouldn’t be surprised as I have noticed her site before jump on a band wagon only to be not true.  Kitchen aid does not have a recall nor is it replacing it for free.  

I noticed that every Instagram post has a blurb about donating to the lawsuit. Which is ironic because in a class action lawsuit the person leading it is the one who gets a substantial amount of money (as well as the lawyer group). Everyone else gets a pittance. 

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Indigo Blue

Indigo Blue

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Posted (edited)
35 minutes ago, itsheresomewhere said:

I have a hobby in old vintage dishes.  The glass pryex is not the ones they talk about.  I actually lead test those as I use them.  Personally, I will keep using my instant pot along with the Pyrex.  
 

Now interesting- a friend has two young kids who had high lead levels.  They couldn’t figure it out as the dishes, dirt, house was fine. After I suggested they test the toys, bingo that was the source.   I do wish lead in toys especially new ones was talked about more.  

The vintage Pyrex is supposed to be more resistant to temperature changes and be more explosion resistant. But the red paint on the outside (measuring cup, for example) might contain lead. The new Pyrex is not the same glass, but the paint on the outside is, I think, lead free? I use the one vintage one I have with Pyrex in all caps on the bottom because the paint doesn’t touch food. The other one…I’m just careful with. I’ve seen explosions before. I prefer the borosilicate vintage glass ones, but I don’t know if I’m misinformed and shouldn’t be using those. 

Edited by Indigo Blue
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Indigo Blue

Indigo Blue

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47 minutes ago, prairiewindmomma said:

This. I still use my instant pot, but I had occasionally been allowing my hands to touch the heating element when we had had drips on it. Now I am careful to use a paper towel.

I can’t find the statement on Corelle’s website (they have a link but it won’t pull up), but basically all pre-2000 vintage Pyrex should be used as “decorative” pieces only. There was a huge wave of news stories for about a week that the story broke. Here’s one of them: https://www.wcnc.com/amp/article/news/verify/dishes-safe-eat-lead-verify-charlotte/275-11203dfa-ed85-40c7-91db-f02fcd35af1d

I think the solid white ones are safe. 

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itsheresomewhere

itsheresomewhere

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22 minutes ago, Indigo Blue said:

The vintage Pyrex is supposed to be more resistant to temperature changes and be more explosion resistant. But the red paint on the outside (measuring cup, for example) might contain lead. The new Pyrex is not the same glass, but the paint on the outside is, I think, lead free? I use the one vintage one I have with Pyrex in all caps on the bottom because the paint doesn’t touch food. The other one…I’m just careful with. I’ve seen explosions before. I prefer the borosilicate vintage glass ones, but I don’t know if I’m misinformed and shouldn’t be using those. 

The old Pyrex is so much better.  The paint on the new ones wears off very fast.  I did test the paint on my old measuring cup and it was fine. 

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kristin0713

kristin0713

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So, this annoys me and it concerns me, but I'm not going to let it take up any space in my head. I use my KA mixer about once a week or more during a busy baking season. I use the Instant Pot about once a week as well. I'm thinking about all the places that I buy food where it has been manufactured or prepared and who knows what they used? Are they checking for lead in all these places? I used to worry about this stuff a lot but I'm not convinced it would make a shred of difference at this point. 

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Farrar

Farrar

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That's such cruddy clickbait. They might have lead, but so might a lot of things. Natural Momma and Lead Safe Mama and all these sites... they are not scientists and their methods are not scientific. I'm not saying that some products don't have lead -- it absolutely happens. But I don't trust this particular source.

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itsheresomewhere

itsheresomewhere

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6 minutes ago, Farrar said:

That's such cruddy clickbait. They might have lead, but so might a lot of things. Natural Momma and Lead Safe Mama and all these sites... they are not scientists and their methods are not scientific. I'm not saying that some products don't have lead -- it absolutely happens. But I don't trust this particular source.

Wasn’t natural mama the one who promoted the homemade sunscreen that was really lotion? 

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Happy Camper

Happy Camper

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3 minutes ago, Spy Car said:

We had a little 2AM earthquake here in Los Angeles last night.

No big thing. Just not feeling like I'm possessed of the sort of "cantankerous energy" required for a customer-service call to be any fun today.

Maybe tomorrow?

Bill

 

 

Oh wow! That doesn't sound fun. Dealing with lots of wet, heavy snow isn't fun, but I think I'll take that over being awakened by the earth shaking!! How does one go back to sleep after that? 

Meanwhile, I'm not sure calling is worth your time. I have since found a post on Snopes (I confess that I forgot that existed!) claiming this is a scam, which I really hope is true, but I will probably test my accessories, just for peace of mind. 

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Spy Car

Spy Car

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10 minutes ago, Happy Camper said:

Oh wow! That doesn't sound fun. Dealing with lots of wet, heavy snow isn't fun, but I think I'll take that over being awakened by the earth shaking!! How does one go back to sleep after that? 

Meanwhile, I'm not sure calling is worth your time. I have since found a post on Snopes (I confess that I forgot that existed!) claiming this is a scam, which I really hope is true, but I will probably test my accessories, just for peace of mind. 

As a native Angeleno a 4.2 doesn't even cause us to arise from a toasty bed. But I didn't not sleep well. Not from "anxiety," just the break in the sleep cycle.

I will check back to see if there are more updates.

Thank you for the info.

Bill 

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Ting Tang

Ting Tang

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I sent our Baby Bullet to a lab ten years ago, and it had lead parts. Lead is everywhere. At the time, my oldest was a baby with a blood lead level of 82. I was pregnant with our second. My husband  has a BLL of 42. Mine was 36. Our drinking water has become contaminated. We left that house ASAP. Fast forward… more than a decade later. My oldest is very bright, but he suffered physical problems from the lead. My next in line is a slow learner, and I do think his lead level in utero has much to to do with it. Lead can leach, and sadly, it’s still in many things. I won’t even buy dance costumes with Knick off rhinestones— full of lead, and it can even poison your pets! I’m mad at kitchen aid. Lead is heavy… and cheap. We used chelation, but it removes it from the blood and not the bones. These parts might nit make contact with the food, but I just hate it! 

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easypeasy

easypeasy

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4 hours ago, Ting Tang said:

I won’t even buy dance costumes with Knick off rhinestones— full of lead, and it can even poison your pets! I’m mad at kitchen aid. Lead is heavy… and cheap.

Wait, rhinestones too? Are there rhinestones that are specifically lead-free?

It's all exhausting and seemingly neverending. I just wish the people in charge of things would all agree that keeping their consumers safe should be at least in the top half of their concerns. Sadly, that seems to be a pipe dream.

Off to google stainless attachments for the KA. Even if there is no lead, I didn't realize the attachments I had were aluminum and try to minimize aluminum use in my cooking. *sigh*

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Ting Tang

Ting Tang

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26 minutes ago, easypeasy said:

Wait, rhinestones too? Are there rhinestones that are specifically lead-free?

It's all exhausting and seemingly neverending. I just wish the people in charge of things would all agree that keeping their consumers safe should be at least in the top half of their concerns. Sadly, that seems to be a pipe dream.

Off to google stainless attachments for the KA. Even if there is no lead, I didn't realize the attachments I had were aluminum and try to minimize aluminum use in my cooking. *sigh*

The more expensive stones made in Europe are much safer. Chances are you won’t get poisoned from the cheapies, but I just do not want them around after our debacle. 

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shawthorne44

shawthorne44

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20 hours ago, Spy Car said:

As a native Angeleno a 4.2 doesn't even cause us to arise from a toasty bed. But I didn't not sleep well. Not from "anxiety," just the break in the sleep cycle.

I will check back to see if there are more updates.

Thank you for the info.

Bill 


I was once at a Semiconductor work conference in Monterrey, CA and during a lecture session I suddenly felt ill.    I did what you do, and turned inward.   Then I noticed that about half the audience looked green.  I realized it was a quake.   If you'd had a video on the guy talking, you wouldn't have noticed anything because he didn't seem to notice.   On the way out I asked some of the people nearby that hadn't looked green if that was a quake.   At first they'd said No, because they'd already forgotten.  It was a 3.something.  
 

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Spy Car

Spy Car

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18 minutes ago, shawthorne44 said:


I was once at a Semiconductor work conference in Monterrey, CA and during a lecture session I suddenly felt ill.    I did what you do, and turned inward.   Then I noticed that about half the audience looked green.  I realized it was a quake.   If you'd had a video on the guy talking, you wouldn't have noticed anything because he didn't seem to notice.   On the way out I asked some of the people nearby that hadn't looked green if that was a quake.   At first they'd said No, because they'd already forgotten.  It was a 3.something.  
 

My first thought was to wonder what Desmond, our wonderful kitty, who was snuggled in tight under the covers right next to me (enjoying the reciprocal body-heat) was going to make of the situation? He noticed. But he stayed put.

Then I looked to see if Mrs Spy Car had been aroused. No such luck.

I was rather disappointed, as I I was prepared to say, "Did the earth move for you, too?"

Apologies to Ernest Hemingway  :tongue:

Bill

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Arcadia

Arcadia

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41 minutes ago, shawthorne44 said:


I was once at a Semiconductor work conference in Monterrey, CA and during a lecture session I suddenly felt ill.    I did what you do, and turned inward.   Then I noticed that about half the audience looked green.  I realized it was a quake.   If you'd had a video on the guy talking, you wouldn't have noticed anything because he didn't seem to notice.   On the way out I asked some of the people nearby that hadn't looked green if that was a quake.   At first they'd said No, because they'd already forgotten.  It was a 3.something.  
 

Was that IRPS? When we attended, so many of us drove down and we have experienced 5.4 and higher earthquakes so are pretty nonchalant about the minor ones. 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-022-00431-y.epdf?sharing_token=H4C0e4fJr9CkUP7VgDp1ptRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0PgdR4be7noHsNldtWRtEUzjL_TkKiS9QmD9p844rxuNe2oPVb3XCzODJPj7eg6lqYWf_O24yV5xw687J8V38YP2wKqGTOYUltq3KfpYBjE4Vwls_Qb6jbuN1gknunvroU%3D

On page 7, having trouble with copy and paste

 

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Cecropia

Cecropia

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11 hours ago, Ting Tang said:

The more expensive stones made in Europe are much safer. Chances are you won’t get poisoned from the cheapies, but I just do not want them around after our debacle. 

If you craft, I know Swarovski crystals post-2012 are very low lead crystals (looked it up, 0.009% lead.  Used to be 30%!).

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Arcadia

Arcadia

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11 minutes ago, Cecropia said:

If you craft, I know Swarovski crystals post-2012 are very low lead crystals (looked it up, 0.009% lead.  Used to be 30%!).

Good to know. I have a Swarovski Squirrel that was given to me as a graduation present in 1997 and I have just kept it in its box as a keepsake. 

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