Lead Dish Dangers

Q: While in Europe about 1975 we bought 24 lead plates. We used the plates for 10 years. What is your opinion of our exposure to lead?

A: Are you sure your dishes are made of lead? Lead dishes would be heavy. The dishes are probably pewter, which is safe to use. If the dishes are pottery with a lead glaze, there is some risk. Lead can leach out of the glaze if acidic foods are cooked, served, or stored in the dish. Bright-colored glaze used on some handmade pottery from South America and Asia are more likely to contain lead. In 1971 the Food and Drug Administration set limits on the amount of lead in dishes. Rules were updated in 1993. Dishes that contain lead have to be labeled “Not for food use.” If you still have the dishes, you can test them. Lead-testing kits are available online and at some hardware stores. A blood test can determine if anyone has lead poisoning.