USFDA Warns of Lead in Indian Cookware

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health warning against certain imported cookware products after tests revealed they may leach hazardous levels of lead into food. The cookware, often made of aluminum,

brass, or aluminum alloys marketed under names such as Hindalium/Hindolium or Indalium/Indolium, poses serious health risks when used for cooking, it said.

One of the flagged products is a Tiger White Kadai manufactured by Saraswati Strips Pvt. Ltd., India, and sold at Mannan Supermarket in Jamaica, New York. The agency has urged all retailers to immediately stop selling such cookware and asked consumers to dispose of it safely.

Why this matters

Lead is toxic to humans at any level of exposure, with no

safe threshold identified. Even minimal amounts can cause:

• In children: Learning difficulties, reduced IQ, behavioral changes, and developmental delays.


• In adults: Fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting, and neurological effects.


• At-risk groups: Young children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers are especially vulnerable.

What can people do

• Check your kitchen for imported aluminum/brass cookware, especially labeled as Tiger White or Hindalium/Indalium.


• Do not use such cookware for
  cooking or storing food.


• Do not donate or refurbish. These items should be discarded.

What retailers and distributors must do

• Immediately stop selling cookware that may leach lead.


• Use FDA-approved lead leach testing protocols to verify product safety.


• Consult the FDA before marketing cookware intended for food use.

The FDA emphasised that lead is not authorised for use in any food-contact material, including cookware.