Before having that next cup of coffee...

     ...you should look at the bottom of your coffee mug.  In fact, take all of your coffee mugs and check the bottom of each one.  Chances are, most or all of your mugs are stamped "Made in China."  It's difficult these days to find a mug that's not made in China, or at the very least, made outside of the USA, but think twice before drinking out of them again before you test them for leachable lead. 

     Lead can be ingested through contaminated drinking water, and lead can "leach" from ceramic into the food or liquid that it contains. Heating the vessel or filling it with high-acid foods or drinks can increase leaching. Therefore, if your coffee mug contains lead, it's more likely to leach into your mug of hot coffee, tea, chocolate, tomato soup, or chili - those liquids/foods for which you usually use a ceramic mug.

     The US Food and Drug Administration has established federal standards for lead levels contained in ceramic porcelain table ware.  In 1991, these standards were improved from a maximum of  seven micrograms of lead per millimeter to a maximum of  three micrograms per milliliter. However, California's standards are even stricter, requiring that manufacturers warn consumers when ceramic tableware contains more than 0.226 micrograms of lead per milliliter. ("Ceramic and Porcelain Table Ware Market in United States of America" www.srilankabusiness.com/ )

     In 2007, lead contaminants were found in many "Made in China" ceramic products, causing international concerns. Since then, the Chinese government allegedly has increased its regulation, monitoring and inspections of ceramic table ware manufacturing plants. However, in 2009, there were known cases of lead poisoning in children living close to these plants. ("Dangers of China Glazed Ceramic Coffee Mugs" http://www.ehow.com/)

 

     The USA is the largest consumer in the world of ceramic table ware.  China supplies the largest share of that market, and continues to increase, while a majority of US ceramic table ware manufacturing has been outsourced.

     Finally, according to my research, all ceramic tableware from Asia, as well as antique ceramic dishes made everywhere, should be tested for leachable lead.  Lead testing kits are available in most hardware and paint stores.

**********************************************

Today's Recommended Product:

Ceramic Mugs Made in USA by The Ceramic Source

     I was unable to find a "Made in USA" manufacturer of ceramic mugs/table ware who sells their products  to individual consumers. (If you can find one, please post as a comment to this blog.)  The Ceramic Source, established in 1975, and located in California, only sells to promotional product distributors  (organizations or businesses supplying ceramic mugs for promotional purposes.) The Ceramic Source specializes in USA made ceramic products in unique shapes, styles, and colors in ceramic. including unusual handles, matte colors, hand-painted designs, and deep etch imprinting. All orders are made to order.  For more information, go to their web site at:  www.ceramic-source.com/

Last Recommended Product:  Tom's of Maine (read more in my last blog post.)

Should Walker Be Impeached?

     Should Gov. Scott Walker be impeached?  No one is publicly asking that question, but it seems appropriate to ask it.  Walker has apparently entered into a conspiracy with the powerful Wisconsin Koch business dynasty to hijack the collective bargaining rights of thousands of Wisconsin state employees.  Since collective bargaining incorporates the right of employees to organize, eliminating these rights would bring the American middle class closer to becoming a third world working class in the United States.    Walker has threatened to lay off five to six thousand state employees if they don't give up their collective bargaining rights.  Walker claims to be doing this in order to reduce the state deficit and balance the budget.  In truth,  the layoffs wouldn't do either. 

    What Walker doesn't seem to get is that laying off thousands of employees would add to Wisconsin's economic woes.  First, there's the state unemployment benefits that would have to be paid out to these employees.  Then, there's  the state taxes that these employees wouldn't be paying, thereby reducing the tax base.  Next, there's the local businesses that would be negatively impacted by reduced spending of laid off employees.  Finally, there would be further reduced taxes and spending from the negatively impacted businesses. 

     Basic economics aside, a recent prank phone call, in which a newspaper editor posed as one of the Koch brothers, has revealed that Walker's demands and threats are more closely related to the recent actions of a certain middle east dictator than they are to the responsibilities of an elected state executive.   It appears that Walker's real motive is a desire to increase his own war chest and political influence by busting unions.  Walker is no friend to the American worker, to U.S. jobs, or to the majority of the electorate he is sworn to protect.  For that, the people of Wisconsin should question Walker's ability to lead, and consider his impeachment.

******************************

Our First USA buy USA Product Recommendation:

Tom's of Maine products - Made in USA by Tom's of Maine, Inc.

Tom's of Maine was established in 1981 and continues to manufacture its products (toothpaste, deodorant, soap) using natural, sustainable sources.  Tom's also gives 10% of its pre-tax profits to charitable organizations, and encourages its employees to donate 5% of their work time to community projects.  Find out more about this USA company at tomsofmaine.com.

USA buy USA: Blog Guidelines

USA buy USA: Blog Guidelines: " >This blog is dedicated to promoting products made in the USA. For the purposes of this blog,&n..."

Blog Guidelines

     >This blog is dedicated to promoting products made in the USA.  For the purposes of  this blog,  products with the labels "Made in USA," "Produced in USA," or "Product of  USA" are made/grown/produced  in the USA.

     >For the purposes of this blog, products with the labels "Assembled in USA" (or in a US location), and "Distributed in the USA" or by a distributor at a US location, mean the product was not manufactured - or in the case of fruits and vegetables - grown here.  A product or item might be put together here, but the parts might be made elsewhere.  For example, an automobile might be assembled in the USA, but all of its parts manufactured in another country.  A product or item might also be distributed by a US distributor, as many products are, but that simply means that it is sold to retail stores here by a distributor located in the USA.  For the time being, products/items that are "Assembled in the USA," will not be promoted on this blog, although we may consider adding this as a subcategory in the future.  A product or item that is made, grown, and assembled elsewhere, and simply distributed by a US distributor, will not be promoted on this blog.  
     >What, exactly, does "Made in USA" mean?  It primarily means that “all or virtually all” significant parts and processing are of US origin.  A product must meet certain requirements of the Federal Trade Commission in order for a manufacturer/seller to claim that it was "Made in USA."  To read about these specific requirements, refer to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_in_USA#Legal_requirements. 

     >"Produced in the USA," or "Product of the USA" generally means that the item was made, or originated in the USA.  Stay tuned for the first USA-made products we find on the next post of this blog, and please send us what you find, as well.  Together, we'll create positive energy for the US economy and American-made products!