made in mexico - lead free?

Unknown

Hello! I'm looking at purchasing a BGE, but after talking to some friends, they heard somewhere that ceramic products coming from Mexico are said to contain excess amounts of lead.[p]After doing a little research on the internet, I came across the below website. I would appreciate if BGE (or someone else) could shed some light on this since their ceramics are made in Mexico.[p]Thanks,
LZ
[ul][li]Border Basket - lead in Mexican-made Ceramics[/ul]

The Naked Whiz

LZ,
It would only be a problem if the food came into direct contact with the glaze itself. Needless to day, that cannot happen, so I think there is nothing to worry about.[p]TNW

BlueSmoke

LZ,
Your friends are correct - up to a point. Mexico, as most emerging countries, has no regulation of ceramic glazes. This does not mean that ALL their glazes are toxic: just that none of them are subject to the same regulation we impose.
Ceramic glazes, the culprit in lead contamination, are formulated to melt and flow together in two basic heat ranges: low fire, and high fire. Lead, among other dangerous substances, is needed by low fire glazes, but can't be used in high fire. (By the time you expose a low fire glaze to high fire temps, the glaze, lead and all, will have vaporized.)
First, TNW is right. Only if you expose low fire ceramic ware (made outside the USA), to mild acids will the lead leach out. Moral - keep food with any trace of acidity away.
Second, the Egg is not a potential source of lead contamination. The "body" (clay it's made from) and glaze are both high fire. It simply couldn't have been glazed with a low fire (lead-containing) glaze.

WooDoggies

Hi LZ,[p]Lead glazes are normally thick, very glossy, translucent, soft (scratch easily), and are found on lower-fire, decorative earthenware ceramics... mainly redwares these days.
The BGE is made from high-fire ceramic and has a thin, very hard, opaque, enamel-like glaze with an 'orange-peel' sheen.
Though I have not seen the formula for the BGE glaze, nothing about it suggests a lead glaze.[p]Here in the U.S., objects that have been made with lead glaze have to be clearly marked with something like "Glaze Contains Lead: Use for Display Only" on the bottom of the object. With BGE being a U.S. company with their ceramics made in Mexico I would think that they would be subject to the same requirement.[p]So in a long winded answer to your question... I think it is highly unlikely!
Maybe Jim Nuffer will come aboard and give us the official word. Hey, anyone heard from Jim lately?[p]WD

WooDoggies

BlueSmoke,[p]Hey bud, you beat me to the punch and more informative, dang it!
Hey, do you remember the hydrogen sulphide or sulpuric acid (I dunno) test where if you apply to the surface and the glaze turns black, there is lead present? ....can't quite remember.... Once again, too many brain cells ago.[p]Cold PBR's to you.[p]WD[p]

LasVegasMac

The Naked Whiz,
I agree with your conclusion - BUT - just for giggles, I sent a request to see if they could test an egg.[p]LVM

Tom Harmon

The Naked Whiz,[p]Gotta agree w/the Whiz here....... Lead would only leech outw/acidic foods/liquids in direct contact w/the lead. No glaze even inside the Egg[p]TLH

BlueSmoke

WooDoggies,
Yeah, I'm thinking you apply 4 or 5 drops of muriatic acid to the surface. If my memory serves (and that's severely pre-sauced) the spot will turn gray to black if lead is present. There was something about "the stronger the acid, the darker the stain", but any discoloration indicates the presence of lead.[p]Peebers comin' right on back your way. Live easy - eat good![p]Ken[p]ps Ran a batch of NC Red today. Not Charlie's, but pretty good. I'll give you a heads up when it cool enough for a more objective test.

WooDoggies

BlueSmoke,[p]Please keep me updated. Anything named 'NC Red' has got my attention. [p]Live easy - eat good! Can I use that?[p]~J

Unknown

Thanks for the explanations everyone! So, the consensus is - "don't worry about it" - great! I will print your messages out and have the friends read them as well.[p]Thanks,
LZ

BlueSmoke

WooDoggies,
You just did! :-))))))[p]The NC Red tastes like a step in the right direction. It's going to take many more tastes to figure out what's missing. (If I knew right now, I'd either be way far afield, or close enough for kissin'.)[p]Ken

BlueSmoke

LZ,
Glad to have been of help. (Stick around, you'll discover we're more helpful than a litter of kittens.)
If you're like me, once you cook ceramic you won't go back.[p]Ken