Lead, however, is used in some glazes for slow-cooking pots (crock-pots). But, in tests done in 1987, FDA found that the amount of lead that leached into food from these pots did not exceed FDA standards.
Whatever that means.
Found the same info here (scroll down to the bottom - last paragraph):
It probably depends on the colorant used in the glaze, and also on what you are cooking. I know that acidic foods leach our chemicals more than other foods.
IMO- I have a hard time believing that ost crock pots contain any lead- FDA standards or not- for the last 10 years. Even if a company thinks its not a problem, for a consumer to find out there is lead, would be a disasterous situation, and easily sink them.
FDA standards are based on a low amount. We all probaly have lead amounts in our system, certainly did as chlidren. A small amount is easily passed by the body if you have enough iron and calcium and zinc in your system. The fact that you are ingesting lead while you are eating only aids in your bodies ability to pass it.
So, i doubt its a big deal- but I still urge you to call/ email you manufactures and demand to know, and state that you believe lead should be banned from all their products.
If you ever chip or break your crockpot- throw away and clean the area with powdered dish detergent.
My FIL called Rival this morning because he has a Rival brand crockpot & so do we. He was very concerned when I told him that I'd heard that crockpot glazes could contain some lead, and he immediately picked up the phone & called Rival (their phone # is on the crockpot somewhere).
Rival verified that their glazes DO contain lead (in an amount well under the limit set by the FDA), and that they do NOT make any crockpots with a lead-free glaze.
You can also email them.
This is always easier for me with small children.
You can find their website on google.
Also, its wise to make sure that you do not store food in the crockpot.
I am so shocked that they do this.
Not only is it a possible contaminate- but, its a problem for the factories that make them.
Also, a call to your health dept in your city might yeild so promising ideas about what the FDA levels are. I put a call into mine- they ahve a dept that works with lead and understand the regulations.
Busymommy, some companies advertise that their glazes are lead-free. I'd be wary of the ones that don't say anything. Other companies sell stainless steel crockpots, too.
Can you post about the stainless steel models?
The only ones I ahve seen (in stores) have a stainless steel exterior, but the actual cooking pot is the same. its all for looks.
My Dh got me a crockpot (finally!) for Mother's Day this year--it is stainlesss steel outside and it actually has a glass pot that lifts out of it--I think he got it at Wal-Mart (yikes! I know!) but you can find it elsewhere. Lemmee see......It is by West Bend (that's what is says on the front of it), it is a pretty big one. i've used it a few times and I really like it, I made some good scalloped potatoes in it!
I went to Crate & Barrel today and looked at it, though, and the salesperson did not think it was intended to function as a crockpot - more of a steamer for veggies & rice. It looks that way to me, too.
So, I might be wrong about the stainless thing. I'll keep looking, though, 'cause now I'm on the market for a new slow cooker.
I'm actually now no longer sure that you can find stoneware with a lead-free glaze, either.
I was looking around the internet earlier & I was finding things that said I should be sure to find a crockpot made with a lead-free glaze. So, I assumed that there were companies who advertised their product as such. I can't seem to find them, though.
Sorry, I jumped to conclusions too quick on those ones. Didn't mean to raise false hopes.
I don't think it has a glass inner; it looks like my Rival crockpot. The black upper handles are part of the inside. It does have a glass top though (although my cover is *all* glass, including the handle.
MamaBlue, I'd just call the company if I were you. I actually just meant crockpot stoneware, not all stoneware. But it does make me wonder about the glazes on other stoneware, too. If you call the company, let me know what you find out, ok? I'd be interested in what the scoop is with other stoneware products.
I called westbend and they said it was lead-free. AND did you know some of the crockpots have a nonstick coating. rival is big on that, so that's the reason I ended up with westbend.
thanks for this thread and info. I am always looking for hidden lead risks, as my dd has high lead and we still dont know why (we corrected the minor problem areas we knew about and she is still high-even with a higher iron and diary intake) I do cook quite a bit in the crock pot. and mine is a rival (its beautiful, though..the stainless outer and glass top, I hate to part with it)
all of our dishes, accessories, pitchers, bakeware, etc is stoneware (but its fiesta ware, which I thought they made a HUGE deal out of it all being lead free now)
Originally Posted by MidnightCafe
My FIL called Rival this morning because he has a Rival brand crockpot & so do we. He was very concerned when I told him that I'd heard that crockpot glazes could contain some lead, and he immediately picked up the phone & called Rival (their phone # is on the crockpot somewhere).
Rival verified that their glazes DO contain lead (in an amount well under the limit set by the FDA), and that they do NOT make any crockpots with a lead-free glaze.
ok, I just called Rival and asked and I was told that they do NOT have lead. Now where do we go from here?
I understand your concern about the lead, and I would contact the companies about each individual crock because if you are using something that is really old or from another country, you may be at more risk than someone buying something from a fairly mainstream, current source.
Just so you know, stoneware is heated too hot in a kiln to contain lead in the glaze. Stoneware glazes tend to be real earthy tones, such as browns, blacks, celadons, tomato reds, ochre yellows and some blues.
On the other hand, if the peice is EARTHENWARE with bright vibrant colors (sometimes painted in designs or as underglaze), then there could be cause for concern. Earthen ware is fired at lower temperatures and uses lead as the flux to melt the glaze on the surface. There are earthenware glazes though that do not contain lead and are food safe.
I have not seen pieces that contain lead for commerical sales for food in the US. I think you are safe shopping at Target, Walmart, and the whole lot. I would however restate, if you think it might be a concern with your particular item to call the manufacturer and if that does not clear it up, get a testing kit.
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