Debra, from Dennis
You have a very good comment on the concept of lead in the power cord of appliances. I have been an electrician for 34 years. There is the story of an electrician that suffered lead poisoning. Investigating it, they discovered that he often stripped the insulation from wires with his teeth. Apparently he was too lazy to use his tools. The lead was in the insulation. This seems counter-intuitive to the electrician mind since lead is a conductor, not an insulator. Perhaps it leached from the metal wires onto the insulation.

Debra, After you posted my entry, I finally heard from a slow cooker manufacturor; Hamilton Beach. The consumer Info Desk told me that all of their slow cookers are lead/cadmium free.

I will still test the actual units when I get them, but it gave me a good place to start from.

I ordered one from HB this morning, and after testing the pot when I receive it, I will let you know of the result.

If that comes out to be "negative" on lead, I plan to buy a few more and test them all. That way I will be assured that most likely all the HB pots are safe.

I've talked to Vita Clay, and they didn't want to say yes or no to my question about "what does that mean that there is no ADDED lead? Does that mean there is some lead already in the pot naturally from the clay, and you did not add any more? Or there is none, zero?".

I also found out that their slow cookers (VitaClay) are "bottom-Only" heat. Bottom-Only heat slow cookers tend to scorch during cooking time. Just FYI...

I did some research on the zisha clay, and every article says that zisha clay is free of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and other toxic materials. So the only question is how VitaClay ensures that their pots are indeed 100% pure zisha clay.

As for the cooker being bottom-only, their rice cooker/slow cooker unit cooks on 3 sides and is generally getting good reviews (notably, on superchefblog: www.superchefblog.com/2007/08/vitaclay-chef-gourmet-rice-slow-cooker.html ). I just received mine and am excited to give it a try this weekend.

Hi Debra,

I am currently looking for new cooking appliances. I cannot use gas cooking and heating because I am supersensitive to it. I recently had my Sharp combo microwave toaster oven die. I only used the toaster oven portion for the last few years because of the hazards of microwave cooking, although I am sure the EMFs were still high without even measuring them.

I am looking for small electric appliances to aid in my cooking, baking, grilling, toasting, and steaming food.

I bought a DeLonghi convection toaster oven Model DO1289 which has Durastone II enamel which needs preheating for practically everything and takes forever to toast breads and doesn't heat my reheated baked foods evenly. I checked with DeLonghi and they said that the Durastone II enamel does not have lead. I was wondering if you or your readers knew of a combo convection toaster oven that is both safe (no teflon, aluminum-- the Delonghi has some aluminum accessories that I use only if it doesn't touch my food and Durastone II for their baking dish and broiler pan) and works well?

I read the entry from ROTTIEMON28 regarding the Vita Clay Rice and Slow Cooker and would like to know how she liked it and from where she purchased it.

Fran M. from Texas purchased a Deni electric grill and I would love to know how she likes that. I noticed on the website link (www.everythingkitchens.com/deni-Electric-Stone-Grill.html)there was a Deni quick and easy convection oven but the base looks plastic even though it has a Arcopal glass bowl for holding the food. I am trying to stay away from plastic due to the odor from its offgassing.

Another electronic oven I found was a Black and Decker Infrawave Speed Cooking oven. I have never heard of infrawave speed cooking and was wondering if you or any of your readers are familiar with this way of cooking and of course the safety?

The duplex I am renting does not have 220 volt electric outlets which keeps me from purchasing a full electric stove and oven.

I had the gas stove removed and the gas for it and for the heat turned off. I do have a cheap electric cooktop from KMart that I can use for some cooking, although the cookware I have is stainless steel. I bought it from a local restaurant supply store and my magnet does work in it but I am reluctant to use this stainless steel.

There is another source for stainless steel (medical grade) cookware (Saladmaster Cookware) that is superexpensive ($2000-$3000) for their sets. Has anyone who could afford it tried their cookware? They do offer a free extra (large rice cooker worth $600 or something comparable) with their sets. One can probably find used sets for sale on ebay much cheaper. Does anyone know about medical grade stainless steel?

Many thanks Debra for your website and blog and to all the readers who contribute.

Lyn

Where can you buy Lead Testing Strips????

Thanks!

I've read these posts about lead-free slow cookers with great interest as I'm horrified to think I've been using 'crock pots' for many years, not knowing about possible lead poisoning.

Did anyone find a lead-free slow cooker? I don't see any conclusive results here.

I love this method of cooking and really want to know a brand that's safe.

If you are interested in finding out about Lead content in Kitchen Items, see KUTV Channel 2. The station is located in Salt Lake City Utah. He has tested items found that they contain quantities of Lead. All of these items meet the FDA approval, however it has now been found that when some brands of plates or other items are heated, the lead leeches out at an alarming level. Their are other brands with no lead in them.

Mr. Gephardt's action started when a small child in Utah became quite ill and through the various testing, and a very alert Doctor, the cause of the sickness was found to be lead poisoning. In assisting to help determine what in the home could contain Lead, Mr. Gephardt took some stoneware plates to a testing lab and found unusually high lead levels. His effort has snowballed into finding lead levels in all kinds of kitchen tools.

Mr. Gephardt is presently working with a member of Utah's congressional Representatives, who is going to introduce a bill in congress to mandate that a company that produces a product will have to attatch a label that will say "Contains Lead" or "Lead Free".

I yesterday purchased a slow cooker, a Rival Crock Pot, only to find out that it has lead in it. Before we put it into use, I called the Manuf, and asked if it contained lead, and I was told yes but it doen"t exceed the FDA level. The person indicated that all of them are made out of the same material, and I replied to him that that was not true, and that recent test results show that some have lead and others don't. Thanks for the tip on the Hamilton Beech. I will take back the Rival, and check into purchasing the Hamilton Beech.

I urge all who read this to contact your congressmen and let them know we want to know what is safe to eat out of, or to cook with. "Go Mr. Gephardt"

So did anyone actually test the HB crockpots???

Did anyone buy the Vita-clay rice/slow cooker and have any conclusive results (ie does it burn on the bottom or sides?)

thanks

In the KUTV special - they mention that Corningware is Lead free. I am wondering if that applies to the Corning Slow Cooker as well?

Just a heads up, the link for the vita clay slow cookers pulls up but the product is not available on that site, not sure why ... I googled the cooker and found several places that carry that product, most well-known would probably be Amazon and WalMart, believe it or not! I am looking to replace a large crockpot myself and also perhaps get a stainless steel rice cooker (inside) - I am still debating on that since the entire idea of clay cookers is very appealing yet the idea of heating up a big oven for rice tends to push us towards the electric cooker option. Btw, the brand for the stainless steel rice cooker is Tayama. I was surprised that the high end cookers, like those by Zojirushi, for example, have non-stick interiors ... Diana

I have been waiting with baited breath for quite awhile now to hear "the answer", but it just seems like there is no standard slow cooker that is completely lead free. Vita Clay seems like a good option, but there are still doubts about where it is made and how it cooks?

Debra and/or Readers, what do you think about the Zojirushi Stainless Thermal Cooking Pot ? The Zojirushi site says the inner pan is stainless steel, but I am not sure if the interior is as well and if it magnetic. I haven't received a reply to my inquiry to the company, so thought I would see if any of you know or have any comments about this slow cooker.

I have also heard about a glass slow cooker: www.redfuture.en.ecplaza.net/3.asp , but have also read that the glass cookers tend to cook hot and burn things.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these cookers? Has anyone one found "the answer" for which is the safest slow cooker? It is crazy how complicated finding safe things for our families can be!

Karen

What about the Corning slow cooker the 6 qt. with the blue cover /does Corning have lead I never thought so.
For Cookware I have Farberware Stainless no lead in it have used Farberware brand for 30 plus years.

Interesting topic!

The inside ceramic "crock" of my crock pot is white-- which I assumed to be a clear glaze free of colors and therefore lead and cadmium.

Is this a naive assumption?

Dear Lyn,

I bought a Saladmaster set of pots and pans back in 1977. They are still in perfect shape and cook great using very low heat. Thankfully my set only cost $400 way back then. But we hoped to never have to replace them...and so far we haven't needed to. Sorry to hear they are now so very expensive, but should be worth it if the product is still of the same quality. They can be used in the oven as well as stove top...you just have to make sure the knobs and handles are not screwed on too tight. Don't know about "medical grade" stainless steel...just know I like me set and it has lasted over 30 years now.

Nell C.

Great topic. I just today was testing some new dishes and thought I would test old ones as well. Happy to say they came up OK. In my search for the best price for a natural a rice cooker however, I came upon this link, and the discussion. I became nervous about my Crock Pot, a Rival it turns out. Thinking dang, not something I have been potentially poisoning myself with! I had an extra lead test q-tip and thought I would try. My Rival came up clean. It is white annnddd I bought it in California. Thought my swab may be defective, however a magnet (or the metal case it was in) from the fridge came up pink. So test before you toss, and if you are a nervous nelly (I can be myself) test again!
thanks for the topic, the board, and all that wonderful wonderful information over the years Miss Debra. many blessings, Mona

Great topic. I just today was testing some new dishes and thought I would test old ones as well. Happy to say they came up OK. In my search for the best price for a natural a rice cooker however, I came upon this link, and the discussion. I became nervous about my Crock Pot, a Rival it turns out. Thinking dang, not something I have been potentially poisoning myself with! I had an extra lead test q-tip and thought I would try. My Rival came up clean. It is white annnddd I bought it in California. Thought my swab may be defective, however a magnet (or the metal case it was in) from the fridge came up pink. So test before you toss, and if you are a nervous nelly (I can be myself) test again!

thanks for the topic, the board, and all that wonderful wonderful information over the years Miss Debra. many blessings, Mona

I couldn't wait any longer for the answer to the crock pot dilema and decided to order some lead test swabs myself (from www.leadcheck.com ) and check my Rival crockpot (~10 YO with blue ceramic crock). I'm thrilled to say it came up clean! So did everything else I tested except some salad bowls I bought in Mexico, which are now in the trash. Now I'm moving on to nickel-testing our stainless cookware!

I purchased Saladmaster cookware over 30 years ago. It has a lifetime warranty which is acutally honored. Two years ago the weld broke on the handle and the whole pot was replaced free of charge. I love the new design. I am sorry to hear it is so expensive now. I think you would find they sell the sets much cheaper than checking on a single piece. It is great cookware. About the lead in crockpots, what will we find next that we've been using for years?

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew if the vintage opaque pyrex pieces contain lead. I want to buy a bakeware set made with real borosilicate material and the only way to do that is through ebay. Anyone know?

My husband and I recently tested our household with a XRF machine (tests for levels of many toxins). We found not only lead in our Rival white ceramic crock pot, but also high levels of arsenic. Our Corningware all tested positive for arsenic too, so we threw it away. The only thing that was "safe" was clear glass, like Pyrex. All of our silverware tested positive for lead too, internally not swab tests. Why would toxic materials be used in food preparation tools??? Can no one find safe ways to manufacture these items? We pitched all the plastic in our kitchen because it contains BPA. Oh, I should mention the Corelle dinnerware is fine.

Right now I cook my rice in a stainless pan on the stove, and things I would have slow cooked, I cook in my ceramic dutch oven made in France. Hopefully the Europeans higher safety standards will save my family from toxic cancer from our ex-crock pot.

Was your Corningware (baking and stovetop?) that you tested relatively new or was it old? I'm wondering if the old (20+ years) contains arsenic.

I just threw out a Rival crockpot, white oval, that was about one year old. I noticed that the glaze was getting a crackled appearance, and then after the last use was actualy bubbling out in dime-size pieces. It was made in China, and I am currently looking for a safe, made in USA slow cooker. Are there any out there?

Debra have you heard of corningware containing arsenic? I use their white stovetop/bakeware almost everyday. Mine are older ones that I have had for years.

Hi, I am writing in response to ROTTIEMOM28's comment regarding Zisha clay. I have contacted Essenergy and they said their VitaClay rice cooker is 100% Zisha clay. We can only trust what they say at this point I guess... I am about to buy one since there is really no other safe choices other than stainless steel but I personally don't like stainless steel because it's such a poor heat conductor.

"I did some research on the zisha clay, and every article says that zisha clay is free of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and other toxic materials. So the only question is how VitaClay ensures that their pots are indeed 100% pure zisha clay.

POSTED BY ROTTIEMOM28 :: CA USA :: 08/27/2007 11:28 AM"

Target and Amazon carry an Elite Gourmet tempered glass crock pot.

I was thinking "woopee" about the tempered glass crockpot. Then I remembered that people used to get lead from drinking wine from lead crystal or from using the salt from shakers. I don't mean to be "poo poo er", but is there a possiblity of anything like this with tempered glass.

I know tempered has to do being able to be used with heat but don't know anything else other than most of us have considered glass to be the best way to go until someone discovered that that sometimes explodes.

It does seem to me, though, that if that happened, it would be encased in the outer part of the slow cooker and not too likely to do damage.....and that if the heat was low or wrap around, it would be almost impossible to happen.

What do you think?

I recently bought a Saladmaster Slowcooker and it is all stainless steel. Yes, they are very expensive, but I was lucky enough to get mine as a bonus to buying a set of cookware. If you can't afford something like Saladmaster, everyone should at least be cooking with stainless steel cookware that does NOT have the non-stick coatings. It has been proven that the coatings come off and leach into the food and can cause health problems over time. Stainless steel is the only surface that does not leach out anything into the food. As for the slowcooker,or any other Saladmaster products, check out Ebay. I wanted their food processor which costs $400 and I was able to pick one up on Ebay for about $112. I'm glad to hear the Rival Slowcooker is lead-free. I never even knew or thought about this until I stumbled on this website. My daughter will be in her first apartment in college this fall and I wanted to get her a slowcooker.

This slow cooker is claimed to be 100% lead free - www.kitchenaid.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1145. I called the company and asked if that means 100% lead free according to Federal standards (which may mean there is still a small amount of lead) and the person said there's a glass glaze covering the interior and exterior of the cooking pot. I'm assuming the glass glaze would not allow lead to leach into the food. The seal around the lid is silicone.

Thanks for more good choices for slow cookers. The Kitchenaid one with a glass seal sounds good, too. The glass one I wrote of is good for one or two people but the size may not be sufficient for a whole family.

I will say that though stainless steel is not supposed to leach, there are different grades of stainless steel and my personal experience is that some *do* leach. I had a stainless steel steamer that fit into a stainless steel pot, and I was steaming asparagus and oversteamed them so that they burned a little. I swear to you, they tasted like metal and it was so gross, I threw out the steamer.

So I don't know the specifics of that but I like cooking with glass. I'm not sure my corning Visions is completely safe. But I really like glass cookware, and Pyrex glass containers to microwave or to store stuff.

I have followed up on the lead content of crock pots. I contacted Hamilton Beach a number of times (they always responded) and finally they addressed the lead question. It raises more questions which I am pursuing but here it is:
Dear Annette,

Based upon testing performed by an independent laboratory, the lead
content of our earthenware crocks is less than 10% of the FDA approved
limit. If you have any other questions you may contact:

Scott R. Pinzone, Esq.
Director, Litigation & Regulatory Affairs
Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
4421 Waterfront Drive
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
(O) 804.527.7180
(C) 804.307.1993
(F) 804.527.7218
(E) scott.pinzone@hamiltonbeach.com

Thank you and have a great day.

Sincerely,
Karen Tyson
Consumer Affairs Dept.
Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
234 Springs Road
Washington, NC 27889
252-975-7800 ext. 2426

The kitchenaid slow cooker sounds like it has some issues with the crock liner. There are reviews at Amazon and other sites stating that the liner cracks. Some people have even had replacement crocks crack as well. Too bad, my search for a safe slow cooker continues...

An addendum to my earlier post:

The attorney for Hamilton Beach said that Hamilton Beach's slow cooker pots were tested according to the current method used by the FDA and came up with 1 micron of lead per litter. When asked he said that they add no lead and that this lead would be contributed by the clay. The test involves putting an acidic solution in the crock for a given number of hours to obtain the reading.

Does anyone have more information on the relevance of the FDA test to actual lead in the food; and on the significance of 1 micron?

Thanks

Does anyone know if the Dr. Weil Healthy Kitchen Slow Cooker made by Spring Switzerland has lead in the crock? I would think he would make sure that it did not, but I haven't been able to get any information to confirm that!

TIA!

I just wanted to thank Debra for this website and JENBOOKS for suggesting the Elite Gourmet 3.5 Quart crockpot.

For years we had been using my mother-in-laws older Rival crockpot slow cooker and the concern of it containing lead had bothered me.

I took JENBOOKS advice and purchased the Elite transparent crockpot and I love it! We are a family of six and I made soup in it tonight and I put a roast in it several weeks ago. They both turned out delicious. I feel it's the perfect size for our family. I was concerned if it would get as hot as my older slow cooker and I've been very pleased. I feel better knowing our meals are being cooked in the tempered glass than in the Rival crockpot and the kids enjoy watching their food cook. It is also very easy to lift out the glass bowl and wash it when you are done.

So thanks again for the great advice. I would have never known about this had I not been on this website.

Does anyone have any information on Dr. Weil's slow cookers? Specifically if they are lead/cadmium/arsenic free? I am wary of VitaChef b/c they are made in China and I need a slow cooker! I like the glass slow cookers, but they are too small.

Thanks Again,
MT

I have a Hamilton Beach slow cooker. It burst into flames this morning about 30 minutes after I had set it up. After researching at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (cpsc.gov), I find that this problem is not uncommon, and many Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex slow cookers as well as Rival have had this problem. I have been searching for a slow cooker made in the USA, and so far I can't find one. I had the old cooker for about 10 years, without any problems, but the thought of setting it up then leaving the house - if I had not been there to put out the fire this morning my whole house would have gone up, most likely killing my dogs. Thank goodness I changed my mind about shopping today - and that something told me to check on the cooker.

I am still shaking about this but I'm more disappointed that all the slow cookers I'm finding is just Chinese junk. I never thought my old cooker was from China until I researched it today. If anyone has any info on USA made cookers, please post. Thanks so much-

Addie

after reading all these entries, I'm now just as confused as when I started. It seems the Elite Gourmet is the safest but reviews on amazon says it burns food easily and requires a lot of scraping to clean burnt stuff. The Hamilton Beach sounds like the next best but can spontaneously burst into flames?? The Vita Clay can scorch during cooking. So what to do?

Can anyone comment on how content they are with the Elite Gormet for cooking meats, chicken, etc?

Steve

Hello
Here is a copy of my question to Spring Switzerland about lead in one of Dr. Weil's crockpots. I was dismayed by the response (which appears first )and plan to send this to Dr. Weil's site however I notice he no longer advertises Spring Switzerland on his website.

We do not use lead. However I cannot give you the documentation as uyou
state. You may return the unit if you are uncomfortablem

Regards,
Teri haymer

-----Original Message-----
From: Darnwell Family
To: thaymer@wwusa.com
Sent: Sat Sep 20 11:59:05 2008
Subject: Dr. Weil crock pots

Hello
I just received one of Dr. Weil's crock pots. I assumed when ordering that
I would not have to worry about any lead leaching from the crock pot with
the Dr. Weil brand name. ( I have been a fan of his for years and check in
for nutritional advise, buy his vitamins etc) However I see nothing
indicating that is has been tested for lead and would like to check it out.
All other crock pots of this type (cerramic interior) do leach some lead
although in varying amounts.

Have these crock pots been tested for lead leaching and what are the results
(specific in micrograms rather than "lead free"' etc which can contain lead)
Thanks
Annette Broadwell

We have been using French clay cookware that we got from Claybourg (www.claybourg.com ) and tested them with the Leadcheck tubes from www.leadcheck.com (a bit expensive stuff) and they came negative, which is cool because we love these pots.

I've done reading on those clay cookware from the French region Alsace and they have been making them for over a thousand years and no health issue was ever reported with them although they are very popular there, even in the past century when regulations were more flexible and they were using lead in the glazing.

You guys need to keep in mind too that glazing with no lead at all has other products that are potentially more dangerous because they are needed to replace the lead, such as lithium, and nobody talks about it, they are not regulated. If you buy quality cookware, the little lead that may still remain in some glazing is "frozen" when the cookware is fired at very high temperatures.

If you buy an electric slow cooker (crockpot), I'm sure there are a bunch of chemicals released by the non-stick coating of the bowl, just like in any non-stick pan. You could also check all the cups, bowls, and other dishes that come from all other the world and probably some if not most, contain some lead at various levels and if that was really a problem, the world would have lead poisoning by now. My mom uses super quality copper pans like some "grand chef" do and copper gets in the food as well.

When it comes to cookware, my philosophy is buy the best quality I can afford and avoid non-stick coatings as much as possible (although we have a rice cooker) and usually, quality cookware last a lifetime so it’s an investment rather than a consumable good.

I just wanted to write and let Steve know I had the comment above about the Elite Gourmet slowcooker. I have found it to be a great slowcooker. I made another roast in it the other night, it came out moist, and delicious. There was a small patch of like burnt food stuck to the bottom of the glass bowl but it did not affect my meal in anyway and it wasn't hard to get off when I was cleaning it. I had also had that happen with my Rival crockpot before so it wasn't anything new. The only other meal I have made in it was Taco soup and that has always turned out great also. I'm thinking of buying another one as it would be nice to have another one on hand for Thanksgiving. I just feel so much better knowing my food is cooking in glass rather than in a ceramic with a glaze that may have lead in it.

Copper pots and pans are usually copper bottoms only. The cooking surface is lined with other metals like tin or stainless steel for copper is a very good heat conductor but too reactive to be in contact with food.

I was really surprised by the posting about arsenic in Corningware. I went on to do a little search and found that arsenic is used in glass and ceramic manufacturing. And arsenic in cookware is not regulated.

After a few email exchanges and phone calls, I received the following statement from the Dr. Weil site (thanks to one of their moderators)

The Dr. Weil Slow Cooker utilizes a ceramic crock with a hardened glaze. All ceramics contain a minute amount of naturally occurring lead. The glaze coating prevents any of the materials, including the very minute amount of lead from entering the food. There is no lead used in the body or any of the parts of the slow cooker or in the glaze. This product is completely food safe and FDA pproved. If for any reason the crock chips or breaks, it is still safe by FDA standards, but you may feel more comfortable throwing it away and we will replace the crock.

I was relieved to see they stood behind their product, because I had also found this (below) in a CDC MMWR Newsletter, reporting on a lead poisoning case from French ceramic dishware in 2003 -- www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5326a4.htm

The last paragraph states -- Lead can leach out of ceramic ware when the glaze is improperly fired or when the glaze has broken down because of wear from daily usage, particularly after repeated use in a microwave or dishwasher (6). Chips and cracks in ceramic ware also allow leaching of lead. When lead is released into food and drink from ceramics, hazardous levels can contaminate food substances and expose children and adults to toxic levels. Childrens risk for such exposures is compounded by their diets, especially their frequent consumption of acidic juices (e.g., orange and apple juices) that promote leaching of lead from ceramics.

I am now using my Dr. Weil slow cooker and feel fairly confident its okay. But its clear that information about lead contamination in specific cookware can be hard to come by.

I have the Zojirushi rice cooker but it has a non-stick lining. Is this harmful to cook in?

Thanks,
JP

Hi- I was drawn to the site because of the discussion about lead in slow cookers. To the couple who wrote about using the XRF machine to test things I wanted to ask:

What kind of silverware had lead in it? Is it accessable? Do we need to worry about stainless steel?

How does that machine work and how much does it cost?

Also, what was the end result of the slow cooker discussion? The glass one sounded promising, but what about the arsenic? Is there arsenic in pyrex too?

Best regards and thanks for all of the info,


Denise

Are there any nonstick linings that are safe?

FYI,
the Elite Gourmet glass slow cookers have been discontinued. I ordered one on-line and it came with a defective cord. I sent it back for an exchange and was informed that they are being discontinued. So back to square one.

Steve,

Did you get the Elite Gourmet from Target.com?

JP

I didn't get it from Target. Got it from a retailer on amazon.com. Are they still available at Target? I'm hesitant to buy one now because they're being discontinued and I wonder if there's something wrong with it, safety wise.

Steve

I just ordered one from Amazon but looks like it is fulfilled by Target. Haven\'t received it yet. Here it is:

www.amazon.com/Elite-Gourmet-Quart-Transparent-Cooker/dp/B0006A2ZRA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1230920030&sr=8-1

I have tried the Elite Gourmet glass slow cooker. When it worked, it was perfect. However, after a few uses the High option broke and it always cooked on low and the food never boiled. But I like it so much, I will give it another try and hope I will be lucky to get a good one this time.

After taking the advice from members here, I RE-purchased the Elite Gourmet glass slow cooker. I returned the first one due to a faulty cord. The new one arrived from Target and I did a simple test this week just with water and vegetables. About a half hour later, I walked into the kitchen and the entire room and living room REEKED of off-gassing chemicals. Cancer-causing and endocrine disrupting pthalates from the wiring and electronics were cooking along with my food. After some time, I realized, this is way more dangerous to my health than trace amounts of lead that may never leech out of a normal crock pot. In fact, my Rival slow cooker never off-gassed at all. THis Elite Gourmet would take at least months to off-gas. I'm chemically sensitive - spending an hour with this product actually made me ill. I had to toss my food and pack it up. Even with an exhaust fan on my window it took an hour before the smell gone from my living room.

I think about all the things I could have done with the time I spent researching this topic and wish someone had just wrote what I'm writing a mile up the thread.

If after reading this, you STILL want to buy this lovely glass object, let me know and I'll sell it to you at half price plus shipping.

Steve

I would REALLY like to get some straight info on the old Corning visions cookware. Is it safe or not? For some reason they don't make it in the US anymore, but they do in France (???). If anyone has a legitimate site that I can research this more I would be very grateful. Just last night I bought a set of pots because I think I am having a reaction to all my cheapo Korean stainless steel cookware I have been using for years ( and scouring with bon ami when it needed it- ignorance is not bliss when you finally find out what you have been doing is harmful) I saw no other safe stove top type cookware beside this so I got a set and I'm cooking some chicken soup it it right now for me and my kids ( not canned but left over chicken bones from last nights dinner so it'll be simmering for a long time). I even have a bid on a 4.5 liter dutch oven. Does the color have any bearing on the toxicity if there is any? I have the amber color.

Has anyone here bought the VitaClay cooker and care to share their experience? I like the idea of a multi-cooker, as it will reduce the total number of appliances I use. There are a few reviews, but they are mixed. One person seems to have made it a mission to question the safe of their units, and has posted the same message on numerous site stating that they *might* have something toxic coating the heating element that *might* transfer to the BOTTOM of the cooking pot, which them *might* be transferred onto other dishes etc when you clean it. Honestly, the idea mentioned here on this forum of the lead in a regular plug sounds more dangerous to me that the possibility of the heating unit contaminating my food from this unit.

In any case, I would really like to hear from those who have bought any of the VitaClay units, and would be willing to correspond off-list.

I bought it and disliked it. It has a teflon coating to heat so it's not safe. It's big and clunky for the actual space you get. It's too "high tech"--unneeded. I gave it away as I couldn't re-sell it on CL.

I bought leadcheck swabs and tested my crockpot--it didn't have lead, nor did my ceramic cups. I'm not sure that the lead issue in crockpots may be overstated, so I recommend the $18 investment to see.

Are you certain that you are describing the vitaClay models that are currently offered on their web site? They do not have a teflon coating, but are made from Zisha clay

vitaclaychef.com

The swab tests are useless for testing your crockpot. The lead that is in the glaze will leach when its HEATED UP. So just because you tested yours doesnt mean its safe - unfortunately.

this is all really sad because i love my crockpot and it helps me cook so much. iwas going to buy a second one but came to research and came across this thread. frustrating!

I specifically wrote them at leadcheck and asked. They said if I wanted I could also boil water and test the water. I do not think that lead would only leach in the presence of heat and be undetectable with the swabs. Where did you get that info?

Re Vita clay the pot itself is clay but the heating element has teflon and offgasses. And the thing is so dang huge and clunky for the amount of space inside the crock. It's overpriced.

I honestly don't that the off the supposed off-gassing of teflon would pose a problem. The main problem I'm concerned with teflon is consuming it as a non-stick surface breaks down.

About the size: It would replace three of my other appliances. I would like to hear a reply from someone less concerned about the heating element who has actually used all of the various functions of this model.

The price is also comparable to other multi-cookers, which have teflon coated non-stick liners.

To go back to non-stick coatings used by Zojirushi. This is the response I got from their CS Rep on the subject of hot water dispensers:

All of our water boilers have a stainless steel inside liner with a non-stick coating. The non-stick coating is made of POLYFLON from Daikin.

Is anybody familiar with Polyflon? Is it plastic-based?

I have been reading and following this entry for a while now.

It sounds like we have yet to find a crock pot/ slow cooker that can be recommended.



Vita Clay- food sticks to the bottom?



Hamilton Beach- may catch on fire?



Kitchen Aid\'s Slowcooker, liner cracks?



Corning Ware



Saladmaster- expensive. I looked on their website and couldn\'t find one.



Rival - glaze crackling



Elite Glass slowcooker- discontinued due to faulty wiring, may offgass



Dr. Weil Healthy Kitchen Slow Cooker- possibly the only one recommended. Does the glaze leach lead? I wasn\'t clear on this.



If anyone can clear up the confusion, and summarize our findings so far, I\'d appreciate it!



Thanks so much everyone.

I'm the guy who returned the Elite Glass slow cooker. I ended up buying the Dr Weil after sorting thru all these posts. Yesterday I ran my first test with just water and a carrot because I was expecting to offgas the unit. However I was pretty impressed. it's sturdy and built well and when I heated it up for the first time, didn't offgas at all, despite being made in china. The Elite glass was offgassing like chernobyl. it was a cheaply made unit and full of volatile chemicals.

Like I said, I haven't cooked a meal in the Weil yet but he's supposed to be a national health guru - his name and reputation is riding on it.

I got a Weil slow cooker assuming the same thing and I do have a lot of respect for Dr. Weil. However I got a very concerning post from the retailer for some of his appliances and cookware (see my post and email back and forth) which leads me to think that these products need to be subjected to the same scrutiny as any other brands.

Hi Steve, I agree about the Elite. It offgassed and really bothered me.

For the Rival, I should reiterate I spoke with the people at leadcheck and if there is lead, it will show up. My Rival cooker is okay. So I'm using it for now.

Glad to hear about the Weil cooker too.

I have used the Elite Gourmet several times now and have no problem with offgassing or anything else. The glass insert is made by Arcoroc which seems to be a reputable brand of glass.

I saw people talk about corningware. i just purchased a french white set. Is this safe? Should i maybe stick with Pyrex?

I just came across the post about the arsenic in Corningware. Is there really arsenic in Corningware? Should I throw mine out and quit using it? I have a son with epilepsy that I try to use the most natural cookware with, and I thought the Corningware was safe. We have small saucepans that I use at least 4 times per day--for many years I have been doing this. We don't use a microwave, so I reheat in these all the time.

How can I find out if I am poisoning my son (and family) with arsenic? This is really scary.

Thank you for this wonderful site, where we can learn how to take care of our family.

I would like to address the VitaClay issue. We were given a VitaClay rice cooker for Christmas, 2008, so just a few months ago. We use it at least every other day. I found this blog while looking up information to find out if the VitaClay contains lead. My reason for searching this topic is because as we have been using the cooker, the orange color on the inside has begun to wear off, leaving a dark ring (blackish in color) around the inside near the bottom, and a dark spot on the center bottom. The rest of the pot is fine. I was concerned that the finish is wearing off and whatever is on the inside is being introduced into our rice. The cooker itself works GREAT, and we have been quite pleased with it, other than the finish wearing off. I appreciate the comments that the clay is supposed to be toxin free, but I am still concerned about the ring of wear. This particular VitaClay was purchased from Wal-Mart, online I beleive.

After posting my comment on the VitaClay, I discovered that by using a kitchen scrubber (the type that doesn't scratch), I was able to get the dark area off. (not quite sure why I didn't think of this before, other than maybe out of concern that it would damage the finish) So I guess the finish isn't wearing off after all. I was quite concerned about it before, but am now very relieved. I wanted to let everyone know that it came off, in case someone might like to purchase a VitaClay. I have to say that the VitaClay does work great, and is quite easy to use. We have to eat gluten free, so this rice cooker has been an amazing tool for us in cooking rice! It is supposed to cook other dishes such as soup, etc., but we haven't tried that yet. I was trying to get past the fact that it might contain lead. I appreciate this blog, and all of the helpful information and tips, especially the info. on the VitaClay and the clay contents. Thanks ~ :0)

Has anyone looked into the Fagor brand? I contacted the company about their 3-in-1 cooker that someone mentioned briefly on another site as being made in the USA (although I find other info that states it was made in Spain). The Fagor gets good reviews on Amazon. We ditched our Rival crockpot because of the lead issue and our weekly menu has been suffering as a result. We miss the toss it in and forget it cooking! Where is a lead-free or at least "safe" crockpot! (If I hear anything definitive from Fagor I'll post.)

Without any confidence in a toxic free slow cooker at an affordable price, I am thinking of retrofitting an existing one with a replacement pot. After all, a slow cooker is really just a low wattage heating element, insulation and timer - and of course the pot. So...

Any recommendations for an affordable non-toxic cooking pot that I could build a slow cooker around? How about 1.5qt size?

Hi...my name is Cindy and I purchased the Vita Clay cooker because it was lead/ptfe free.(i have a Bird)....however I was interested in a "slow" cooker...up to 8 hrs if necessary and the max number of cooking hours available on this unit appeared to be 3 hours,. As I have a full time job the limitations of this appliance are obvious...in any case this does not appear to fit my needs as a slow cooker

cindy....any suggestions would be appreciated...I really enjoy this blog...kudos

Hi Cindy, Exactly which model of the VitaClay cooker did you purchase? I think that they have different times settings. I was told that one model has 1/2 increments and longer cook time, but another model had 10 minutes increments for a shorter maximum cooking time.

Do you know which one you bought?

Has anyone considered possibly using a sun oven instead?

I feel like it would be an eco-friendly option allowing for a lot of flexibility.

It's basically like an oven which you set outside and it uses natural sunlight for energy. To use it as a slow cooker you would take your own pot of whatever size u like and put it within the oven outside.

Since it uses sunlight, you can't really control the temperature with a dial or anything but i've done some research and it looks like sun ovens never burn your food and you can vary the temperature based on the orientation of the oven towards the sunlight. To keep maximum heat (about 350-400 degrees F) you would need to reposition the sun oven every hour or so but i've heard of people using it essentially as a slow cooker and just leaving it without repositioning and making some really flavorful meals that way.

I think this is a good option because it essentially avoids the whole lead/arsenic/off-gasing issue entirely. Similar to Roger from California's post about retrofitting a slowcooker to a non-toxic pot. The only issue here would be to find a non-toxic cooking pot that is an appropriate size for your needs.

Sun ovens are an investment since they run at about a couple hundred dollars i think, but they do help u save if u use them frequently enough since you're using sunlight instead of electricity.

i can't really give a more detailed review though since I have not used them but there are some blogs which talk about them. I think it's a good option to look into . . .

I have a Vitaclay Rice cooker and I have had no problems with it. I use it for cooking rice, quinoa and other grains. I think the rice takes a little longer to cook than it did in my old rice cooker. I find that the warm feature is too warm to leave for a long time. Other than that the rice and grains cook fine. For the person who mentioned the dark spots, I\'m guessing you burnt something on it. It has no glaze so food doesn\'t clean off the same way as with glazed surfaces.

Debra,

I was wondering if slow cookers with Aluminum pots are safe? I have been doing some research and have come up empty. Any info you could share would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance! Here are the two I found so far:

Hamilton Beach Premiere Cookware 5 1/2 Quart Slow Cooker
West Bend 84716 Versatility 6-Quart Oval Slow Cooker

I am currently struggling with the dilemma of a chemical free slow cooker. It doesn't seem like any definitive conclusion was reached especially for a larger family..like a 6-8 QT crock.
What about using a lodge dutch oven, possibly older models available at antique stores, ebaby etc. There are several places(websites) to get conversion cooking times(much shorter in a dutch oven even on a low heat(200 degrees) and recipe modifications to the traditional slow cooker recipes. Iron is the only thing that could leak into your food, right? I know that leaving your oven on unattended could be an issue for some, but if you are home, but just want an easier or more convenient cook method it would be fine. I know you can also purchase a separate electric burner that you could plug in to an outlet to put the dutch oven on if you were not in the house.
Any input on this idea would be appreciated.

I REALLY WISH that when people post their comments on a particular model, that they include the SPECIFIC MODEL NUMBER! For example, there are SIX models of Vita Clay cookers, and they are not all exact duplicates! They have different features, time settings, and potential uses. The same is true of other brands. Each time someone posts, I have asked them to clarify precisely which model they own, but NO ONE has responded!

PLEASE post your MODEL NUMBERS!!!!!

I think *ALL* VitaClay products uses a teflon/non-stick heating element which gives off a very strong off-gas. You can avoid inhaling the toxi gas by putting it it away from you and in an well-ventilated area, but you can't prevent the cheap "unstable" non-stick coating from leeching into the porous inner clay pot. You don't even have to heat it up. Just leave the pot in a couple days with the lid closed, it'll smell like the teflon coating. As for the inner clay pot, it looks like VitaClay put some kind of a glaze on it. With continued use, the glaze would get duller and would eventually disappear and end up in your stomach on top of the teflon... :(

Since there may be arsenic in the Corning Bakeware, does any one know about the credibility of the safety claims in connection to Le Creuset?
Thank-you Debra and all contributors for this and all the other great discussions.

Some months back I sent in a post to this blog about having a VitaClay Rice Cooker. I just noticed the person wanting model numbers, which is a great idea. (sorry I didn't think to post mine the first time) The following model is the one I have. VitaClay VF7900-3 Hope this helps ~

One of the causes of the old crock pots catching fire was that the handles were screwed on with bolts, from the inside, when they first made the pots. Consumers could not get inside to tighten them if the bolts came loose. The bolts would fall off, and hit the heating elements and it would flare up. Also the handles then would often fall off or become loose causing you to spill and burn...

You can check the recall lists to see if your old crockpots (or other items) are problems. Of course any frayed wire inside can do this too. It pays to replace them every few years for newer safer models, if you use them often. And sign up on the recall lists to get notices each week for all products.

recalls.gov This site will get you there. Just sign up!

Some companies will send you reimbursements, or coupons for new products if you have a BAD item from years ago that they were forced to recall!

I bought a fan at the Salvation Army, and found it to be on the recall list, with a fire hazard. The company had me send them the plug off it, and they sent me a brand NEW FAN!!! It pays to check this out!

Dear Debra,

Thank you for your very informative discussion of potential toxins in cookware. In order to avoid exposure to heavy metals in my cookware, I recently purchased a set of Xtrema ceramic cookware, which is marketed as being completely toxin-free. When the cookware arrived, I noticed the individual pieces were marked "Made in China"--although they also said "USA Design."

Now having read all the comments about lead, arsenic, cadmium, etc. lurking even in allegedly nontoxic cookware, I have a concern about the Xtrema brand, particularly knowing that it was manufactured in China, since there have been so many reports of products from China containing lead and other toxins. It also seems unlikely that if so many other supposedly "clean" brands of cookware still contain some level of toxins that this brand would be any different.

Can you or any of your readers tell me whether Xtrema cookware is truly free of toxins or not? And if it does contain toxins, does anyone know which ones?

I did a lead test (using the at home testing kit) on my small 1.5 qt. crock pot made by chefmate (purchased at Target) and the lead result showed negative. How accurate is the test kit? Don't know. But it does make me feel a little better anyways.

I'm wondering if anyone has lead checked (w/ Lead Check swabs) a Dr. Weil Slow Cooker? I'm still looking for a safe and yet larger slow cooker. It seems as though the Vita Clay units are all pretty small.

I recently purchased Piral Terracotta Cookware (two pots, 5-quart and 3-1/2 quart) after doing a thorough search on the Internet about non-toxic cookware.

This cookware is made in Italy by a company that uses a non-toxic, lead-free glaze. I love these pots, and they are all I use now. I stopped using all my stainless steel and cast iron cookware, as well as my crock pot. Now I only use these two. You can tell a huge difference in the taste of the food, and I feel much better about what I am eating. It was expensive, but I am glad I paid the price. You can buy this cookware at a few places online. I got mine from CSN Stores. Or just enter "Piral Terracotta" in your Google search field.

Before you buy, you might want to read about the company in Italy that makes the cookware and about how it is made. You can also find this information online in various places.

By the way, if you have a gas stove, you can cook with these pots directly over the flame. If you have an electric stove, you should also buy the diffuser to place underneath the pot so that you don't end up having "hot spots" while cooking.

Just read all the blogs on lead and arsenic leaching cookware. Have used Corning ware for years, mine purchased in the 1950s and still good. Where do I find the lead and arsenic test kits to test them?

Also Diane Appletree asked in August about Le Creuset ovenware. It is made in France, and I use the dutch oven alot. It is ceramic of some type. Can Debra or anyone who knows reply please to both questions. This is much helpful site. Thank you so much.

You can email the company but I don't believe they are any different from the rest which claim to be within FDA guidelines. I had emailed a number of companies and I'm pretty sure this was there response, or I would have bought one.

I have researched every single product listed on this page. Not one is completely safe. Dr. Weil's products are made in China (btw). I also researched slow cookers made in Germany, Japan, and other countries. There was one made in Germany, however, the site was entirely in German and I'm not fluent and there was not an option to purchase other than Euro. My guess is that the glass would be the best bet, however, the electrical systems seem to have issues (off-gas).

Our dishware is Fiesta, which is (the pottery) confirmed "still" made in the USA. I'm hoping maybe Fiesta will come up with a slow cooker.

We have a rival we purchased at Costco. We need something smaller and I am not purchasing something until I find a healthier solution.

I'll continue to search. Please post if anyone finds SOMETHING safe to use as a slow cooker.

I know this is a little bit off topic but I do wish people would stop saying that just because things are made in China, they automatically have lead or unsafe. I am not defending China but just to say that it's ultimately down to the manufacturer and their quality of standards. Here's a quote from Healthystuff.org in the FAQ section.

"Are products made in the USA safer than those made in other countries?

A lot of our consumer products are produced outside of the U.S. For example, eighty percent of all toys purchased in the U.S. are made in China. Therefore, the majority of toys that we've previously tested were from China. HealthyStuff.org has not found a consistent correlation between the country of manufacture and the presence of toxic chemicals in toys. Twenty-one percent of toys from China and 16% of those from all other countries had detectable levels of lead in 2008. In 2008, 17 toys manufactured in the U.S. were sampled and 35% of those had detectable levels of lead. Seven toys (2%) had levels above 600 ppm. One of the highest lead levels detected (190,943 ppm) was on a Halloween Pumpkin Pin made in the USA. In addition, our tests of vehicles and car seats produced in the U.S. consistently show elevated levels of one or more hazardous chemicals. These levels of hazardous chemiclas in US manufactured products are comparable to similar products produced in Asia or Europe. "

Xtrema Cookware will be coming out with a slow cooker. I had just contancted them last week with a email "wish list" asking them to make a slow cooker--that I felt there was a market for a safe slow cooker. Well it's already being developed and they hope to have it available by the Fall of 2010. I wish it was sooner; however, I'm just thrilled and can't wait to get it when it comes out!