Food Safety : A Transparent Look

It's a question we often receive: "Is your handmade pottery food safe?" The answer, as with many things in the world of ceramics, is nuanced. If your absolute top priority is the lowest possible food safety risk, mass-produced dinnerware – particularly items like Vitrelle (three layers of glass, not clay) – likely offers unmatched consistency and extensive safety testing that individual artists simply cannot replicate. In that sense, no, handmade pottery isn't the "most" food safe option on the market.

So, why do we dedicate ourselves to creating handmade pottery? For us, and for many who cherish handmade items, it's about the unique beauty, the connection to the maker, and the profound sense of well-being that comes from using something crafted with care. This is a personal decision, and we believe it's one you should make with full information. Below, we'll share everything you need to know about food safety and handmade pottery, empowering you to decide what's right for you.

Two Concerns :

Preventing bacteria growth

The primary purpose of glaze on clay pottery is to create a non-porous, glass-like surface on food-contact areas. This smooth, vitrified layer prevents bacteria from harboring in the slightly porous clay body. Some clays, like the one we use, achieve near 0% absorption when fired to their vitrification temperature (cone 6 for us, which we've confirmed through testing). However, many clays commonly used by ceramic artists can have absorption rates up to 3%.

For any handmade pottery, it's crucial that the glazed surface remains intact. If you observe crazing (fine cracks), pitting, blistering, or any exposed areas of clay on food-contact surfaces, we recommend discontinuing its use for food. Dishwashing can also contribute to bacterial safety due to its high temperatures and strong detergents.

Leaching of metals from glazes

Commercial glazes labeled "food safe" mean that, when applied and fired precisely according to the manufacturer's instructions, they have been tested by the FDA to ensure that lead and cadmium do not leach above safe levels.

It's true that the beautiful colors in pottery often come from various metals, including copper, cobalt, manganese, and iron. Most of these, unlike lead and cadmium, are naturally present in food and generally harmless in small quantities. However, if significant amounts were to leach from your pottery, it could potentially be harmful. The likelihood of a glaze leaching depends heavily on correct firing and application. If a piece is underfired or if glazes are excessively layered, it can compromise the glaze's stability and increase the potential for leaching.

For example, some of the vibrant effects in our bowls are achieved through glaze layering. While beautiful, this layering could potentially affect glaze stability and increase leaching risk. For this reason, we recommend using any of our bowls with layered glazes for decorative purposes only, not for food.

It is also important to regularly inspect your handmade pottery for any changes in color, vibrancy, or surface texture. Such changes might indicate that leaching is occurring, and if so, you should stop using that piece for food immediately.

Making your informed decision

The risk associated with using handmade pottery for food, when properly made and cared for, is generally small. However, the exact level of risk you are comfortable with is a personal choice. If food safety is your paramount concern, we reiterate that mass-produced, colorless glass items from large manufacturers, backed by extensive automation, quality assurance, and testing, will likely offer the lowest risk profile.

However, if you, like us, find profound satisfaction in incorporating beautiful, unique handmade objects into your daily life, we want you to be confident in our commitment to safety. Here's what we do:

We use Laguna Dover slip, which we've tested to have near 0% absorption when fired to Cone 6.
We utilize commercial glazes specifically listed as food safe by their manufacturers.
We carefully minimize glaze layering on food-contact surfaces, explicitly recommending decorative use for bowls where layering is present.
We meticulously inspect all our wares for glaze defects before sale.

We are continually learning and striving to enhance the safety of our pottery. If you choose to use our pieces, or any handmade pottery, for food, please remain aware of these considerations and regularly inspect your items. Should you ever have concerns about one of our pieces, please stop using it for food and contact us; we'll do our best to assist. Remember that all pottery will show signs of wear over time, and there will come a point when any piece should be retired from food use.