Ceramic Foodware Safety

Abstract

Pottery and glassware are two of the earliest manufactured articles in the history of mankind. In ancient times, natural plastic clays were first shaped into such articles as bowls and pitchers and were then hardened by fire. Similarly, powdered glass was melted by the Egyptians to decorate small articles of gold jewelry in the centuries before the birth of Christ, as evidenced in most large museums. However, production methods employed in those early days were developed on a trial-and-error basis, with no knowledge of the chemical reactions occurring during the firing process. Also, the biological effects of using their ceramic products for the handling and storage of foods and beverages were unknown. Unfortunately, the manufacturing methods in many regions of the world today differ very little from those used centuries ago. As a result, folkware products possessing great beauty and charm may still be hazardous and potentially lethal when used for serving and storing of foods and beverages. In fact, there is good reason to believe that in some areas of the world, chronic lead poisoning may be a way of life among people who use primitive methods to make their ceramic foodware articles.