FDA: Imported Cookware May Leach Lead Into Food, Recall Held Up

Lead is a toxic metal known to cause a variety of health problems, including lasting neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular issues.

Wim De Gent

Published: 8/15/2025, 11:13:36 AM EDT

FDA: Imported Cookware May Leach Lead Into Food, Recall Held Up — The logo of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seen on a sign outside the agency's White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Md., on July 17, 2025. (Issam Ahmed/AFP via Getty Images)

Cookware imported from an Indian manufacturer may leak significant levels of lead when used to prepare food, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said, but has so far been unable to effectuate a total recall.

The regulator issued a notice on Wednesday, warning retailers and consumers not to sell or use the cookware after tests showed the cooking pots were made of an aluminum alloy known to leach lead into food.

“Young children, women of child-bearing age, and those who are breastfeeding may be at higher risk for potential adverse events after eating food cooked using these products,” the FDA said.

So far, the FDA has identified two products marked for recall: the “Kadai” and “Karahi” cooking pots, manufactured by the India-based company Saraswati Strips Pvt.Ltd., and sold under the brand name “Tiger White.”

The FDA warned that these may not be the only affected items.

“Additional products will be added to this alert as needed,” the agency said.

Unknown Distributor

One retailer selling the products, Mannon Supermarket in New York’s Jamaica, has been notified of the issue and requested to comply with FDA regulations.

However, it remains unclear to how many stores, or how many states, the unsafe items have been distributed as the FDA has so far been unable to contact, or even identify, the distributor.

“This product may still be sold as cookware in retail stores,” the agency warned consumers.

Retailers across the United States are instructed to discontinue the sale of these products.

“Retailers and distributors are responsible for ensuring cookware sold and/or distributed for use in contact with food are safe for their intended use,” the FDA said. Businesses are advised to use the FDA’s lead leach testing protocol for cookware or another testing method.

Consumers should discard the items and not use these products to cook or store food in, and not attempt to refurbish or repair the cookware in any way, the FDA said.

People concerned about possible lead exposure are advised to contact their health care provider.

The issue of imported cookware leaching lead was first brought to the FDA’s attention in 2022, when the Public Health Department of Seattle and King County in Washington State conducted an investigation into surprisingly prevalent high blood lead levels in Afghan refugee children.

The cause of the intoxication was traced to cooking pots brought along by resettled families. Specifically, cookware products made from aluminum, brass, and aluminum alloys known as Hindalium/Hindolium (also Indalium/Indolium) demonstrated the potential to leach lead.

In December 2024, the FDA issued a notice that these products may not be distributed or sold in the U.S. market.

Lead is a toxic metal known to cause a variety of health problems, including lasting neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular issues.

“Developing fetuses, infants, and children are particularly vulnerable to the potential harmful effects from lead exposure because of their smaller body sizes, metabolism, and rapid growth,” the FDA said.