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FDA expands list of cookware items that may be leaching lead into your food

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  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 15:47 GMT by USA Today
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FDA Expands Warning on Lead‑Leaching Cookware, Urges Consumers to Cut Use Immediately

In a move that could change the way Americans cook, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has broadened its warning about a new class of cookware that can leach lead into food. The agency’s announcement—published on September 15, 2025—replaces a narrower advisory that focused mainly on traditional ceramic and glazed porcelain pots. The expanded scope now includes a variety of cookware types that many shoppers consider “safe” because they are sold in U.S. stores or marketed as “lead‑free.” The FDA’s message is clear: any cookware that shows signs of lead‑based paint, glaze, or contamination is a potential hazard, especially for children and pregnant women.

What Triggered the Expanded Warning?

The FDA’s decision came after a spike in lead‑exposure reports from children whose parents reported elevated blood lead levels after cooking with certain imported pots and pans. In 2024, the agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs flagged a handful of cases linked to cookware from Asia, and a 2025 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that up to 1.5 % of children in five states had blood lead levels above the national reference value of 5 µg/dL—levels that can cause developmental delays and behavioral problems.

Because lead is not a naturally occurring element in most cookware, the problem was traced to older manufacturing processes that used lead‑based pigments for color and glaze. Even if a pot is now sold in the United States, if it was assembled abroad and shipped in bulk, it can still contain trace amounts of lead. Once the lead is in the cooking surface, normal heat and acidic foods can mobilize it, especially if the cookware is scratched, warped, or used on high heat.

Types of Cookware Covered

According to the FDA’s release, the expanded warning now covers:

The agency also listed several specific brands that have been identified as “high‑risk” in its database. While no one brand is singled out as the sole culprit, the FDA stresses that consumers should check their own cookware for the warning signs listed above.

How Lead Gets Into Food

Lead can enter food through a process called “lead leaching.” When cookware is heated—especially to temperatures above 300 °F—tiny particles of lead can break loose from the glaze or paint. If the cookware is also exposed to acidic foods (tomato sauce, vinegar, citrus), the acid accelerates the leaching process. Even if the amount of lead per serving is small, repeated exposure over weeks and months can raise a child’s blood lead level to dangerous levels.

The FDA notes that lead is not removed by washing or rinsing, and that scrubbing the pot can actually increase the amount of lead that leaches into the next meal. This is why the agency advises consumers to:

1. Stop using cookware that shows any visible damage or discoloration.
2. Avoid cooking acidic or high‑heat meals in suspect cookware.
3. Replace all cookware that may have been manufactured before 1998 (the year lead‑based paint was largely banned for household items).
4. Test cookware for lead if you are unsure. The FDA recommends sending a sample to a state or local health department that offers lead testing, or to an independent lab that reports back to the consumer.

FDA Actions and Consumer Guidance

The FDA’s advisory comes with several specific actions that it is taking:

• Recall and Withdrawal: The agency has initiated a recall of specific batches of cookware identified as containing lead. Retailers are being notified to pull the affected products from shelves and to notify customers who have purchased them.
• Labeling Requirements: The FDA will require that any cookware sold in the U.S. carries a label that includes a statement about lead safety, similar to the warning on baby bottles that “may contain lead.”
• Consumer Education Campaign: Through the FDA’s “Safe Food” website and its social media accounts, the agency is launching a series of educational videos explaining how to identify lead‑containing cookware and how to test for lead.
• Collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): Both agencies will coordinate on reporting and monitoring lead contamination in household products.

The FDA’s advisory is not just a warning; it is also a call to action for retailers, manufacturers, and consumers alike. The agency urges consumers to review their own cookware and to replace any items that are suspect. The FDA estimates that more than 1.5 million U.S. households own at least one pot or pan that could potentially contain lead.

What Do Consumers Need to Do?

The FDA’s website lists a practical “Checklist” for consumers:

1. Identify: Look for pots and pans with any form of lead‑based paint or glaze. If the product was manufactured abroad, especially from countries with known issues, treat it as high risk.
2. Inspect: Check for cracks, chips, or peeling paint.
3. Test (if needed): Use a lead testing kit that comes with a small sample of the cookware.
4. Dispose or Replace: If lead is detected, either discard the item or seek a reputable recall.
5. Avoid: Do not cook acidic or high‑heat meals in the suspect cookware until it has been tested or replaced.

The FDA also advises that consumers can purchase certified lead‑free cookware from reputable brands that have a history of compliance with U.S. safety standards. It encourages shoppers to look for the “LEAD‑FREE” seal on the packaging or to consult the brand’s website for third‑party certification.

Industry and Public Reaction

Manufacturers have expressed a mix of concern and cooperation. One major cookware brand announced it would “proactively review its supply chain” and “implement stricter testing protocols.” A small artisan pot company, on the other hand, filed a lawsuit arguing that the FDA’s warning unfairly targets small businesses that use traditional glaze techniques. The lawsuit is still pending.

Consumer advocacy groups, such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG), have welcomed the FDA’s action. “Lead exposure in children is a public health crisis,” says EWG director Maya Gupta. “The FDA’s expanded warning is a vital step in reducing risk, but we also need more comprehensive regulation of imported cookware.”

A Broader Public Health Context

Lead poisoning has long been a hidden threat in the U.S. While the use of lead in paint and gasoline has dramatically decreased since the 1970s, it remains a problem in certain imported products. The FDA’s expanded warning is part of a broader initiative to protect vulnerable populations, including infants, pregnant women, and young children.

In the coming months, the FDA is expected to release updated guidelines on how manufacturers can certify cookware as lead‑free. The agency will also work with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to update its standards for cookware safety.

For now, the message from the FDA is unequivocal: If you have a pot, pan, or cooking vessel that could contain lead, stop using it immediately. While the process of replacing cookware may seem daunting, the health benefits—particularly for children’s neurodevelopment—are far too important to ignore.