The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a new safety alert warning consumers about 19 cookware products that may leach dangerous levels of lead into food. The agency is urging households to check their kitchens and immediately discard any affected items.
Lead-Contaminated Cookware Found in Multiple States
According to the FDA, these products were manufactured outside the United States, primarily in India, and are made from materials such as aluminum, aluminum alloys, and brass. Testing by federal and state agencies confirmed that several items can release lead into foods during cooking.
The latest warning expands on an alert issued in August, with nine additional products added to the list. The cookware was sold by retailers in states including California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C.
The FDA emphasized:
“Do not donate or refurbish this cookware.”
Why Lead Exposure Is Dangerous
Health agencies warn that no amount of lead exposure is considered safe. Even low levels can cause serious and long-term health effects. Symptoms of lead poisoning may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting or nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Memory issues
- Tingling or pain in the hands or feet
Children face an even higher risk, as lead can impair brain development, nervous system growth, and overall learning ability. Women of childbearing age and breastfeeding mothers are also particularly vulnerable.
Consumers who believe they may have been exposed should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
List of Cookware Products the FDA Says to Throw Away
The FDA listed the following cookware items as unsafe and recommended immediate disposal:
- Sonex aluminum pot (Sonex Cookware)
- IKM aluminum saucepan, size 2, 9″ wooden handle (JSM Foods)
- IKM 4-quart pital brass pot (JSM Foods)
- Brass tope (Kraftwares)
- Aluminum kadai size 5 (Lotus Mom)
- Silver Horse aluminum caldero 28
- Silver Horse aluminum degda 24
- Silver Horse aluminum degda 20
- Silver Horse kadai 26
- Silver Horse aluminum milk pan 4
- Chef Milk pan, 24 cm (Shata Traders)
- Aluminum hammered kadai, size 7 (Indian Cookware & Appliance)
- Brass pot (sold at Santos Agency)
- Dolphin brand aluminum saucepan
- 2-quart aluminum saucepan (Win Chong Trading Corp.)
- 3-quart aluminum saucepan (Win Chong Trading Corp.)
- Royal Kitchen cookware, milk pan size 3 (New Reliance Traders)
- Tiger White kadai
- JK Vallabhdas aluminum kadai (Grain Market)
A kadai is a wide South Asian cooking pan, while a degda and tope are commonly used pots for rice and other dishes.
FDA Encourages Retailers to Take Action
The agency also urged retailers and distributors to contact the FDA if they have any questions about the regulatory status or safety of food-related products.
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