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FDA Standards for Lead Ingestion

Lead is toxic if ingested at certain levels, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is among several national agencies that regulate the amount of lead that can become part of the food chain, either by being present in the food itself or by being transferred to food served on or in dishware containing lead.

  1. FDA Standards for Lead in Food

    • The FDA enforces the levels of lead in various food items, especially those used by infants and children. Products intended for children's use may contain only .05 micrograms of lead per milliliter. Candy may contain lead in concentrations of only .02 parts per million; some imported candies with higher concentrations have resulted in public health advisories. Food cans soldered with lead have been banned since 1995.

    FDA Standards for Lead in Water

    • The FDA regulates bottled water, considering it as a type of food. It requires bottled water to have a lead content of less than 5 parts per billion. This standard is even more stringent than the one employed by the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates the content of lead in public drinking water.

    FDA Standards for Lead in Ceramics

    • Because some ceramic dishes leach lead into the food served on them, the FDA regulates the amount of lead in ceramics. The standards range from 0.5 microgram per milliliter of lead for cups, mugs and pitchers, to 3.0 micrograms per milliliter of lead for flatware. Imported ceramics can be held at customs until it is proved that their lead content meets FDA standards.

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