Do I need to worry about lead in my dishes?

Lead is a toxic substance that can affect people
of any age. It is especially harmful to children,
pregnant women, and unborn babies. Lead
accumulates in your body, so even small amounts
can pose a health hazard over time. Lead is used in the glazes or decorations covering the surface of some ceramic dishes. This lead can get into food and drink prepared, stored, or served in the dishes.

How important is tableware as a source of lead exposure?

For most people, tableware alone does not pose a significant risk of lead exposure. Other sources of lead, such as lead in paint or soil, are much more likely to be a problem. In some cases, however, lead in tableware can be a serious health threat.

Some dishes contain enough lead to cause severe
lead poisoning. Even dishes with lower lead levels
may contribute to a person’s overall lead exposure.

Why is lead still used in ceramic dishes?

Lead has long been used in ceramicware, both in
glazes and in decorations. When used in a glaze,
lead gives a smooth, glasslike finish that allows
bright colors and decorative patterns underneath
to show through. It provides strength and keeps
moisture from penetrating into the dish. In
decorations, lead is often associated with rich or
intense colors.

How does lead get from dishes into the body?

Lead can be released from the glaze or decoration
on the surface of the dish and pass into the food or
drink in the dish. This is called “leaching.” Then,
when you eat the food, the lead gets into your
body. The amount of lead that leaches from a dish
depends on the amount of lead in the dish, the type
of glazing, how the dish is used, what kind of food
is put in it, and how long food is left in the dish.

What types of dishes and glazes may contain lead?
What should I look for?

There are many thousands of kinds of ceramics
used for cooking, serving, or storing foods and
liquids. No one has tested them all and you cannot
tell for sure whether a dish has lead just by looking
at it. However, some types of dishes are more
likely to have lead