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 Nov. 24 that it has identified additional cookware that can leach lead into food.
The FDA issued its first notice on August 13 and issued updates in September and October after inspecting pots made by Indian manufacturers and finding them to be 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 October, nine 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. Since then, several new manufacturers and distributors have been added to the list.
The November update added nine new products from several of the companies mentioned above, as well as three new manufacturers and/or distributors.
- Unbranded “Chef Milk Pan 24 cm”, ID number 0732131905632. The FDA tested this product at Punjabi Supermarket & Halal Meat in Rosedale, Maryland.
- Silver horse brand “Alumi Degda 20”, ID number 765542732177.
- Silver horse brand “Alumi Degda 24”.
- Silver Horse Brand “Aluminum Cordero 28”. All Silver Horse Brand products listed above were tested by the FDA at Punjabi Supermarket & Halal Meat in Rosedale, Maryland.
- IKM branded 4 quart pital brass pot, “Brass Hammered Handi No 3” label, ID number 7023672414398. The FDA tested the product at the India Cash and Carry store in Fremont, California.
- IKM brand “Aluminum pan 2 sizes with wooden handle 9 inches”, ID number 7023672411878.
- This is an unbranded Aluminum Kadai No. 5.
- Unbranded brass top. FDA tested the above-mentioned IKM and two unbranded products at the India Metro Hypermarket in Fremont, California.
- Sonex brand aluminum pot, ISO number 9001:2000 5. This pot was tested at Balady Foods in Brooklyn, New York.
New manufacturers/distributors added to the list include Shata Traders, Lotus Mom Corporation (operating as Indian Kitchen Mart 945), and Sonex Cookware.
The complete list of affected cookware products as of November includes the products listed above and:
- 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 “Aluminium Matar Kadai 26”, ID number 765542730845.
- Silver Horse brand “Aluminum Milk Pan 4”, ID number 765542728637. The FDA tested both Silver Horse products at Patel Brothers Market in Schaumburg, Illinois.
- Jk Valalabhdas brand “Aluminum Kadai India Bazaar #3”, ID number 20000000777. The FDA tested 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 Equipment Company brand “3qt aluminum saucepan”.
- Town Food Service Equipment Company 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 pots for sale at the Santos Agency Store in San Leandro, California.
- Unbranded “Kadai/Karahi Aluminum Hammered Kadai Size 7” bread sold at an Indian Supermarket store in Sacramento, California.
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.
