The following is an excerpt from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Routine blood lead screening of a child in 2017 ultimately led to the discovery of a family of five with blood lead levels at or above the CDC blood lead reference value at that time. Case investigations revealed that the elevated blood lead levels were associated with the use of traditional, glazed ceramic ware.
People should avoid using traditional glazed ceramic ware that may contain lead for preparing, cooking, serving, or storing foods and drinks.
Lead is a poison that can cause serious health effects in children and adults. Exposure to known lead sources should be avoided.
Traditional ceramic ware from around the world can contain high levels of lead and have been associated with elevated blood lead levels in children and adults. The lead used for decorative and other purposes on the ceramic ware’s glaze or paint can transfer to foods or drinks that are prepared, cooked, served, or stored in these products, placing users at risk for lead exposure.
Public health and health care professionals should be aware that such ceramic ware can be a shared source of lead exposure.
Thus, testing blood lead levels of all household members is recommended when one member receives a diagnosis of an elevated level. In addition, local health departments should conduct holistic risk assessments for multiple potential sources of lead exposure during case investigations.
Read full CDC report here.
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Doesn't most of the ceramicware for sale in the US come from China?
Hmm, the CDC report says “ purchased in Ecuador, Mexico, Morocco, Turkey, the United States, and Uzbekistan”, nothing about where it was manufactured.
I gotta say, at least here in Central Europe traditional ceramics are still made here, and to modern health/safety standards, but that comes with a price tag.