FDA expands warning to cookware due to lead contamination
The Food and Drug Administration has expanded its warnings about cookware that can leach lead into food.
Unbranded – Newsworthy
The Food and Drug Administration said in an expanded warning updated Oct. 15 that it has identified additional cookware that can leach lead into food.
The FDA issued an initial notice on August 13 and updated information on September 12 after testing pots made by Indian manufacturers and finding they were made with hindallium/hindrium or indalium/indolium, a metal alloy made from aluminum, aluminum alloys, and brass. According to the FDA, these substances are commonly found in some types of imported cookware, but are not used in the United States because of their tendency to leach lead into the food that is cooked or stored inside.
Since then, three more manufacturers/distributors and six more products have been added to the list.
The level of lead exposure considered safe is unknown, and some people, including young children, people of childbearing age and those who are breastfeeding, are at even higher risk of side effects, the agency warned.
Here’s what you need to know:
What cookware is included in the warning?
The FDA initially identified a problem with a product from one manufacturer, Saraswati Strips, an Indian aluminum cookware company. Ltd which sells its products under the brand name Tiger White. In September, two more manufacturers and/or distributors were added to the list, including Indian companies Goyal Group Inc. and Grain Market LLC, which sell under the brand name Silver Horse.
The October update added six new products from three new manufacturers and/or distributors.
◾New Reliance Traders Inc. sells products under the Royal Kitchen Cookware brand.
◾Win Chong Trading Corp. sells products under the umbrella of Town Food Service Equipment Co.
◾Indian Cookware & Appliance LLC sells unbranded products.
The other two products were unbranded and identified only by the store where they were sold.
The complete list of affected cookware products as of October includes:
◾Tiger White brand kadais/karahis or deep pots used for boiling and frying. The FDA tested two specific items labeled “Pure Aluminum Utensils Tiger White RTM No: 2608606 An ISO 9001:2015 Certified Co. Saraswati Strips Pvt. Ltd. India” at Mannan Supermarket in Jamaica, New York.
?Silver Horse brand “Aluminum Mathar Kadai 26”, ID number 765542730845.
◾Silver Horse brand “Aluminum Milk Pan 4”, ID number 765542728637. The FDA tested both Silver Horse products at the Patel Brothers Market in Schaumburg, Illinois.
◾ Vallabhdas brand “Aluminum Kadai India Bazaar #3”, ID number 200000007772. The FDA certified this product at the Indiaco store in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
?Royal Kitchen’s cooking utensil brand “Milk Pan Size 3”. The FDA inspected bread sold at the Sabzi Bazaar store in Rochelle Park, New Jersey.
?Town Food Service brand “3qt aluminum saucepan”.
?Town Food Service brand “2qt aluminum saucepan”. The FDA tested both Town Food products at Best Kitchen Supply stores in Washington, DC.
?Dolphin brand “aluminum saucepan”. The FDA tested the pot at the DBA Diya Handicrafts store in Chicago.
◾Unbranded brass pot sold at the Santos Agency Store in San Leandro, California.
◾Unbranded “Kadai/Karahi Aluminum Hammered Kadai Size 7” bread sold at Indian Supermarket store in Sacramento, California.
The FDA warns that these are not the only products that may be affected, and more may be added as the investigation progresses.
What to do if you have affected products
Consumers should check their homes for any listed products or similar cooking utensils and dispose of them. Do not attempt to modify or repair cooking equipment.
If you are concerned about possible lead exposure, the FDA advises contacting your health care provider.
According to the FDA, retailers and distributors are responsible for ensuring the safety of the cookware they sell, and companies that may place affected products on the market must use FDA’s Cookware Lead Leaching Testing Protocol or another testing method. It is also recommended that you consult the FDA regarding the latest safety and regulatory status of food-related products.
Questions for FDA regarding this topic can be sent to premarkt@fda.hhs.gov.
What are the risks of lead exposure?
The FDA does not permit the use of lead in food-related products, including cookware parts and other food-contact surfaces.
Lead is toxic to humans and can be ingested if it leaches into items that the product comes into contact with, such as cookware. According to the FDA, even low-level exposures are associated with serious health problems, including fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting, and neurological changes.
Exposure is especially dangerous for developing fetuses and children, and can cause learning disabilities, reduced IQ, and behavioral changes. Even if they don’t show obvious symptoms, babies and children can be permanently affected by elevated blood lead levels, especially because they are smaller and have smaller metabolisms.
