Lead and cadmium in pans and air fryers: what UK brands say and what tests show
What it is
Lead has been found in some imported aluminium, brass and “Hindalium” cookware. (US FDA) opens in a new tab In August 2025 the US Food and Drug Administration warned that some imported cookware may leach lead into food, and it has updated that warning since. (US FDA) opens in a new tab Brands usually name cadmium together with lead, so we record both on one line. (how we check)
What we found
Where it turns up in a kitchen
Parts our sources describe as coated or glazed, by how the product’s lead and cadmium line reads. Counts are products, from the records we checked.
| Part | Products | Free from | Contains | Not found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crisper plate, tray, grid or rack | 8 | 1 | 7 | |
| Cooking surface of a pan | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Basket, drawer, bowl or container | 7 | 1 | 6 | |
| Handle | 1 | 1 |
What the rules say
| Where | Rule | Status | Date | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/2619), Part 4 regs 9-10A and Schedules 2-4; equivalent Scotland (SSI 2012/318) and Wales (WSI 2012/2705) RegulationsThe source says: The quantities of lead and cadmium transferred from ceramic articles must not exceed the limits set out in paragraph (4) | In force | 20/11/2012 | legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) |
| Northern Ireland | The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012 No. 384), Part 4, implementing Directive 84/500/EEC (applies under the Windsor Framework) | In force | 20/11/2012 | legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) |
| EU | Council Directive 84/500/EEC on ceramic articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs, as amended by Commission Directive 2005/31/ECThe source says: Council Directive 84/500/EEC of 15 October 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to ceramic articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs | In force | 15/10/1984 | eur-lex.europa.eu (opens in a new tab) |
| Council of Europe (not EU law) | Council of Europe Resolution CM/Res(2013)9 on metals and alloys used in food contact materials and articles, with the EDQM technical guide 'Metals and alloys used in food contact materials and articles' (2013)The source says: Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 11 June 2013 at the 1173rd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies | In force | 11/06/2013 | rm.coe.int (opens in a new tab) |
Proposed, not yet law
- US federal: FDA safety warning: 'FDA Issues Warning About Imported Cookware That May Leach Lead: August 2025' (page updated 03/12/2025) (announced, not in law, 03/12/2025). fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
The general rules for every material that touches food apply too: see them on the hazards page.
How to read a claim
“We do not add” is not a test result
This says lead and cadmium are not added. It does not say a test found none.
GreenPan:
we do not add any Cadmium or Lead
See the record for GreenPan BarcelonaSmall print that changes what “free from” means
Tefal’s footnote defines “free from lead and cadmium” as no intentional addition. We quote the footnote next to the claim.
Allowing for traces
Xtrema says its products are not made with lead, and also says natural materials may carry traces. Tests found trace lead, so we show “Contains”.
Xtrema:
Our products are not made with lead or other heavy metals.
See the record for Xtrema Pure Ceramic (Signature Skillet)Test results from another range
Made In shows heavy metal results from its CeramiClad range on its Carbon Steel page. A lab report on another range is not a lab report for this one, so we show it as a brand claim with conditions.
Sources
- US FDA, warning about imported cookware that may leach lead (August 2025, updated) (opens in a new tab), checked 08/10/2026
- Product facts: each record’s own sources, shown on its page.