Kitchen cookware
Kitchen cookware Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

Millions of households are now questioning whether the unbranded pots and pans they use every day match items included in the expanding cookware lead contamination recall. The issue intensified after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added more affected products to its list, warning that certain imported cookware could leach dangerous levels of lead during normal cooking.

With many people relying on unlabelled aluminium or brass cookware bought from markets, small retailers or overseas trips, identifying which products are safe has become a widespread concern.

Recall Expands as Testing Finds Lead in Imported Cookware

The FDA first issued warnings after laboratory testing found that several types of imported cookware made from aluminium, brass or mixed alloys released unsafe amounts of lead when heated.

The recall has grown to include at least 19 affected products, including milk pans, karahi pots, aluminium calderos, heavy brass handis and saucepans. Regulators also added nine more brands in recent weeks as additional testing confirmed contamination risks.

The advisory notes that ordinary cooking conditions are enough to draw out lead from these materials. The agency has repeatedly stressed that there is no safe level of lead exposure, particularly for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

Unbranded Cookware Creates Major Uncertainty in Homes

One of the biggest issues highlighted by the recall is the popularity of unbranded or generic cookware sold in ethnic groceries, open markets and speciality shops. These products often arrive without labels, manufacturer information or clear metal composition. Many resemble the affected products flagged by federal regulators, making consumer comparisons difficult.

Households that use items purchased during travel or from local markets may not know whether their cookware contains alloys such as Hindalium, Indalium or uncoated brass, all of which appeared in products linked to the recall. Searches for terms such as 'how to tell if cookware has lead' and 'is my pot affected' have surged as families attempt to assess their own kitchens.

Examples of Affected Products for Consumer Comparison

Among the recalled items is a 24 centimetre Chef Brand milk pan distributed by Shata Traders in several US states. Other flagged cookware includes aluminium calderos commonly used in Caribbean and Latin American cooking, brass handis and saucepans, and aluminium karahi pots popular in South Asian households.

Aside from the Chef Brand milk pan, below is a selection of products that have been tested and added to the list in November 2025. The FDA maintains and updates the full list on its website.

  • Sonex Aluminium Pot (Manufacturer/Distributor: Sonex Cookware)
  • IKM Aluminium Saucepan (Distributor: Lotus Mom)
  • Brass Tope (Distributor: Lotus Mom)
  • Aluminium Kadai Size 5 – A cook brand (Distributor: Lotus Mom)
  • IKM 4-Quart Pital Brass Pot (Distributor: Lotus Mom)
  • Silver Horse Aluminium Coldero 28 (Retailer: Punjab Supermarket & Halal Meats)
  • Silver Horse Aluminium Degda 24 (Retailer: Punjab Supermarket & Halal Meats)
  • Silver Horse Aluminium Degda 20 (Retailer: Punjab Supermarket & Halal Meats)

These products share similar shapes and construction with many unlabelled pots sold in markets, raising fears that unsafe cookware may already be in widespread use despite not appearing on official recall lists. The FDA confirms that the issue is linked to the metals used, rather than the design alone.

Health Risks Linked to Lead Exposure

Lead exposure can cause serious and long-term health effects. Children face the highest risk, with potential developmental delays, behavioural issues and neurological damage linked to chronic exposure.

Adults may experience abdominal pain, headaches, fatigue and other symptoms if exposed to unsafe levels over time. The FDA warns that repeated use of contaminated cookware increases the likelihood of harmful lead accumulation.

FDA Guidance on Identifying Unsafe Cookware

The FDA advises consumers to stop using cookware immediately if it resembles items on the affected products list or if the material composition is unknown. Items made from uncoated brass or low-quality aluminium alloys should be treated with caution. The agency recommends avoiding donation or reuse of cookware suspected of contamination and encourages consumers to seek refunds where specific recalls apply.

Stainless steel, cast iron, glass and certified ceramic cookware are considered safer alternatives.

Writer's pick