Pottery Made In Mexico Contains Lead

[Guest guest]

Colorful pottery may look nice on the dining room table. But beware: it can

cause serious harm if it can contaminate food placed in it with lead.

Although we're all exposed to small amounts of lead during our daily routine,

exposure to large amounts can cause lead poisoning, a dangerous condition that

occurs when the body absorbs lead into the bloodstream.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it has confirmed reports from local

and state agencies that traditional ceramic pottery made by several

manufacturers in Mexico—and labeled “lead free”—in fact contains lead.

Agency investigators have in some cases found that the pottery exceeded FDA's

limits for “leachable” lead—lead that could get into food that comes in contact

with the pottery.

This makes the dishware potentially hazardous if it's used for cooking,

preparing, serving, or storing food or drinks.

Manufacturing Problems

FDA is most concerned about lead in pottery made by families and small-scale

artisans in Mexico.

“The problem lies in the use of improper manufacturing practices by some

potters,” says Kashtock, Ph.D., an FDA consumer safety officer and food

scientist.

The focus is on pottery made with earthenware, a porous form of clay.

Pottery made with earthenware must undergo glazing, a process in which a thin,

glass-like coating is applied and fused onto the surface of the clay. This seals

the pottery's pores, allowing it to hold food or liquid.

The glaze fuses to the pottery when it is fired in a kiln, a special oven used

to bake clay.

“In the past, potters have usually used lead glazes, " says Kashtock. " Today,

many of the potters in Mexico have switched to non-lead glazes. However, they

may be using old kilns that were once used for firing lead-containing glazes. "

Kashtock says that while these potters believe they are making a lead-free

product, the kilns they are using may be contaminated with lead residues from

prior firings of lead glazed pottery. “‘Lead-free’ glaze can then become

contaminated during the firing, " he says.

Kashtock says that some potters do make safe pottery with lead-containing glaze.

" That pottery is safe for use if properly fired, " Kashtock says. " Proper firing

of lead glaze binds the lead within the glaze.

“The problem is not that the pottery contains lead, but that it contains lead in

a form that may leach into food, " he says.

Lead Poisoning

Lead in small amounts is part of our environment. In general, this low exposure

to lead does not pose a significant public health concern.

However, exposure to larger amounts of lead can cause lead poisoning, which can

affect nearly every bodily system.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences says lead can be

poisonous to everyone—especially so to infants and young children, as well as to

fetuses.

Kashtock says the effects of lead poisoning depend upon the amount and duration

of lead exposure, and the age of the person being exposed.

" Exposure to large amounts of lead may result in overt and possibly severe

symptoms for which an individual is likely to seek medical attention, " says

Kashtock.

" However, infants, young children, and the developing fetus can be affected by

chronic exposure to low amounts of lead that may not result in obvious symptoms

of lead poisoning but that could cause slowed development, learning or behavior

problems, and lower IQ scores, " he says.

Advice for Consumers

Be aware that some pottery should be used for decoration only, and not for

holding or serving food.

Also, know that a child with lead poisoning may not look or act sick. If your

child has been eating or drinking from pottery that may have allowed lead to

leach into food, talk to your health care professional about testing your

child’s blood for lead.

Be wary if pottery you have was purchased from a flea market or a street vendor,

or if you are unable to determine whether the pottery is from a reliable

manufacturer.

Look over your pottery and check to see if it is

a.. handmade with a crude appearance or irregular shape

b.. antique

c.. damaged or excessively worn

d.. brightly decorated in orange, red, or yellow colors

If you have pottery that fits any of these descriptions or if you're concerned

about the safety of pottery in your home, you can:

a.. Look for a warning label on the pottery. If the pottery was made for use

only as a decorative item, it may have a warning (such as “Not for Food Use—May

Poison Food”) stamped onto the bottom.

b.. Test the pottery. Lead-testing kits, which are sold in hardware stores and

online, come with swabs and instructions. They do not damage the pottery. With

most, the swab will change colors if lead leaches onto the swab. If a test

reveals a positive result for leachable lead, don’t use the pottery for cooking,

serving, or storing food or drinks.

c.. If you are unable to test the pottery or otherwise determine that it is

not from a reliable manufacturer, don’t use it for cooking, serving, or storing

food or drinks.

d.. Be aware that no amount of washing, boiling, or other process can remove

lead from pottery.

FDA Actions

On Nov. 19, 2010, FDA published guidance for industry to address safety and

labeling concerns for traditional pottery that may contain lead.

The agency encourages manufacturers, distributors, and importers to make potters

aware of the production practices recommended in the guidance to ensure that

non-lead glazed products will not be contaminated with lead.

Any glazed pottery that contains leachable lead and is labeled " Lead Free " is at

risk of being refused entry into the United States. The importer is subject to

FDA sanctions for any future entries of imported items.

In addition, FDA has partnered with several federal and state health agencies to

make information available to the public in English and Spanish about reducing

the risks for lead poisoning from traditional pottery.

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page, which features the latest

on all FDA-regulated products.

Posted November 19, 2010

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FYI,

Lottie Duthu