Recall Alerts: Water Hose, Mini Fridge, Ice Cream, Kids Play Kitchen
Check out our food and product recalls you should know about including water hoses, mini fridges, ice cream, kids play kitchens and more.
Fox-26 Houston
Cooking utensils that are likely still on the shelf may leach lead into food, the Food and Drug Administration said in a warning on August 13th.
The FDA noticed this issue after testing pots made by Indian manufacturers and discovered that they were made of metal alloys made from hindarium/hindrium or indarium/indorium, aluminum, aluminum alloys and brass. These substances are common in certain imported cooking utensils and are not used in the United States, according to the FDA.
There is no known lead exposure that is considered safe. Some have warned agencies, including young children, people of childbirth age and those who are breastfeeding.
Here’s what you need to know.
Which cooking utensils are included in the warning?
The FDA has identified the manufacturer, an Indian aluminum cooking utensil company called Saraswati Strips Pvt. Ltd sells products under the brand name Tiger White. However, we were unable to contact the distributor to begin the recall. This means that the affected products are not being pulled out of the shelves on a large scale.
The affected products are deep pots used for simmering and deep frying, along with the kadais/karahis or the brand name Tiger White. The FDA tested two specific items at Mannan supermarket in Jamaica, New York, and labeled them “Pure Aluminum Atnsils Tiger White RTM No: 2608606 An ISO 9001: 2015 Certified Co. Saraswati StripsPvt. Ltd. India.”
However, the FDA warns that these are not the only potentially affected products and that more can be added as the investigation continues.
What if I have an affected product?
Consumers should check and throw away the listed products and similar cooking utensils at home. You should not attempt to renovate or repair your cooking utensils.
If you have a potential lead exposure, we recommend contacting the FDA with your health care provider.
Retailers and distributors are responsible for ensuring the safety of the cookware they sell, the FDA said. This means that any product that may have an affected product in the market should use FDA’s Readreach Testing Protocol for cooking utensils or alternative testing methods. It is also encouraged to consult with the FDA about the updated safety and regulatory status of food-related products.
FDA questions related to this topic can be submitted to premarkt@fda.hhs.gov.
What is the risk of lead exposure?
The FDA does not permit the use of lead in food-related products, including cooking utensils and other food-contacting surfaces.
Lead is toxic to humans and can be ingested when a product like a cookware leaches into the items that come into contact with it. Even low levels of exposure are associated with serious health issues, including fatigue, headache, stomach pain, vomiting and neurological changes, according to the FDA.
Exposure is particularly dangerous to fetal and child development and can lead to difficulties in learning, low IQ and behavioral changes. Even if you do not show obvious symptoms, babies and children can be permanently affected by increased levels of lead in the blood, especially due to their small size and metabolism.
