Is Your Ceramic Cookware Slowly Killing You?

Ceramic cookware sets -- pots and pans made from earthenware and afforded a ceramic glaze -- are in the news but it is not all good.

Ceramic Cookware for the Foodie in Your Life?

Ceramic cookware is on the holiday shopping list of a good many that have a foodie in their lives but don't know what to buy for that food lover. Among cast iron cookware, all clad cookware sets, and also glass cookware, it is the ceramic cookware that looks the most pleasing.

The Toronto Sun alerts shoppers to taka a look at the VitaClay ceramic cookware with a mineral rich liner designed to add a little something extra to the food it contains. Since it is reportedly devoid of harmful chemicals and also heavy metals, it is a safe food choice. For $139.99, it sounds like a good investment for the food lover who already has everything.

Not All Ceramic Cookware Is Safe

Unfortunately, not all ceramic cookware is safe, and while the VitaClay manufacturer makes it clear that their wares do not contain harmful chemicals, other cookware sets by other manufacturers cannot - and do not - make these claims.

Lead In Ceramic Glaze Associated With Lead Poisoning

As far back as 1990, the New York Times reported on the lead poisoning dangers associated with ceramic cookware. The lead itself is contained in the ceramic glaze. According to the New York Times, the lead in the glaze is sealed in during firing, if the process is done correctly.

If there is an error made during the process, the lead will actually leach out of the cookware set and into the food. From the food, the lead finds its way into your body and the bodies of your children. Slow but consistent lead poisoning is the result.

Ceramic Cookware from Foreign Countries Should Be Used For Decoration Only

Ceramic cookware sets from major American manufacturers are deemed safe, but ceramic pots and cookware sets made in Mexico, India, Hong Kong, and also China (which should not come as a surprise) are highly suspect.

Although not each and every ceramic cookware set is indeed a case of lead poisoning waiting to happen, it is wise to err on the side of caution. Use such brightly colored pots and pans as ambiance inducing decorations, but do not store food, cook, or serve meals in them.

When Good Ceramic Glaze Goes Bad

Unfortunately, even the best ceramic glaze can get worn down to the point of allowing food direct contact with the lead contained within. Even if you are convinced that your ceramic cookware is safe, take a good look at the inside. Dishwasher cleaning takes a heavy toll on the pots and pans.

Moreover, the chemical reactions that take place during cooking - and what is cooking, if not a series of chemical reactions that pit acids and bases against one another during heating and cooling? - further wear down the ceramic glaze. Once worn down, lead has the potential to affect the food.

Stay Safe with Ceramic Cookware

Buy your ceramic cookware sets from large American manufacturers. Look at the label and see if the item guarantees to be "lead free." Wash ceramic cookware by hand, and if you notice cracks, chipping, or an interior abrasiveness, it is time to replace the cookware. Use foreign ceramic cookware sets for display only.

Sources: http://www.torontosun.com/life/eat/2008/12/10/7692116-sun.html; http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D91531F931A25751C1A966958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2