Lead in glazed pots from China?

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Jaxgirl Jacksonville, FL(Zone 9a) May 12, 2009

A friend just gave me 3 pretty glazed ceramic flower pots she'd purchased from Pottery Barn. They say they're made in China. On the bottom of the saucers it says "not for food use - food consumed from this vessel may be harmful"...am I to take that to mean that it probably contains lead...and if so, am I also to assume it will kill whatever I plant it in as well? I can't find any guidance on the internet so I'm hoping someone at DG can help me. I'd hate to sacrifice a plant just to find out.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 12, 2009

It doesn't necessarily mean that there's lead in it, there are other materials that can be in glazes that are also not meant to be eaten and you'll frequently see that warning on pottery (even stuff that wasn't made in China). Regardless of what glazes they used though I doubt it would kill your plants, but I would avoid growing edibles in it to be safe. If you want to know if there's lead in it, you can buy lead test kits and hardware stores, Home Depot, etc.

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monkapotamus Winston Salem, NC(Zone 7b) May 12, 2009

With lot of glazes that do have lead, it only leaches out of the glaze if there is a lot of acid in contact with the glaze. So, while none are GOOD, or approved for food use anymore, using some favorite old lead glazed bowl for dinner rolls is probably just fine, but you wouldn't want to eat tomato salad or pineapples out of there. I don't think the soil would cause the lead to leach out much.

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Jaxgirl Jacksonville, FL(Zone 9a) May 12, 2009

Thank you both! I think I feel safe enough now to try some plants in the pots.

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gcorrier Lenoir City, TN May 13, 2009

Keep in mind also that even though lead is toxic our parents and grand parents grew up drinking water out of pipes put together with lead solder. They also cooked wild game shot and cooked with lead bulletts still in the meat from time to time. The schools we attended as children probably had water fountains and pipes with lead solder also. And how many times at the nice resteraunts have you partaken of a cocktail or glass of wine from a lead crystal glass or carafe. These are sources of lead poisioning and chances are if you ate a fruit salad out of that planter your exposure to lead would be minute compared to all of the other sources contaminating you over the years. I would be more concerned about other chemicals that might be a concern.

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Jaxgirl Jacksonville, FL(Zone 9a) May 16, 2009

Thanks gcorrier...that definately puts a bit of perspective on the whole matter! I appreciate the reminders in your message...

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