Question from Cheryl
Hello Debra and all,
Is it safe to assume that any mugs made in the United States and claiming to be lead and cadmimum free are non toxic? If I have been told that the coloring they use on their pottery is colored with “highfired stoneware glazes, all nontoxic” or that the color pigments in glazes are made of metal oxides embedded in zirconium crystals, which makes them non-soluble and non-toxic. (Yellow for example contains Vanadium (one of 26 elements found in most living organisms) and blue contains Cobalt (the basis of vitamin B12), does this seem safe? Ah, even the morning coffee or tea has become an issue! Thanks for any insight and your time.
Debra’s Answer
I think that it’s important to consider the source of this information about the finish. If you are speaking with the potter or someone who works for the potter, then I would consider the information reliable. If this is being said by a clerk in a retail store, I wouldn’t believe it for a minute. They often don’t know the correct information. And even customer service at a large manufacturer may not know.
In today’s market, it’s always best to check any ceramic ware with a LeadCheck kit. They are only $5 at any Home Depot.
