Glazes are labeled per ASTM
D-4236 as follows:
AP Non-Toxic:
Contains no ingredients
considered to be unsafe by the ACMI, or contains such ingredients at low
enough amounts to be considered safe. May be used by any grade
K-12. Glazes which are AP Non-Toxic in wet form might not be in dry
form or when sprayed.
CL Label:
This means there is a Caution
Label written on the jar. This Caution Label could say a variety of
things, and recommendations should be followed to ensure safety. CL
label product is not allowed in schools in grades K-6.
Lead:
Certain
states and most schools have special regulations relating to lead bearing
products. In 2009, most manufacturers phased out of leaded glazes to
make it easier to comply with regulations. We only have a few leaded
glazes left, and very small quantities while supplies last. These
are all clearly marked on the website.
Federal law requires the use of non-toxic products in grades K-6 and
requires art materials labeling that confirms to the ASTM D-4236
Standard. Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, children
should not be permitted to use art material products labeled "not recommended
for the use of children." Products with this statement may not
be sold in school systems in states with laws prohibiting the sale of such
products to pre-kindergarten or grades 1-6.
Dinnerware Safe:
To
be labeled dinnerware safe, the glaze contains no lead or cadmium bearing
ingredients. However some glazes that do not contain lead or cadmium
are still not recommended for surfaces which come in contact with food or
drink due to the soft or crackle nature of the glazes, even though they
pass tests for hazardous release.
In order for glazes labeled dinnerware safe to be dinnerware safe, they must be fired to recommended firing temperature.
Tableware
producers must have all finished ware tested and approved as sale for
dinnerware through a certified laboratory due to possible variations in
firing temperature and possible contamination.
It is impossible for any glaze manufacturer to guarantee the finished
properties of its products, since application and firing are critical factors
over which the supplier has no control. Table producers are responsible
for complying with FDA guidelines for lead release. Any statements
concerning dinnerware safety must be confirmed by the producer of the
products through lead release testing by an approved laboratory.
None of these products should be taken internally. They may contain ingredients not suitable for ingestion or
inhalation
Please note that there are other variables which may affect a glaze's
suitability for use in dinnerware. You might call this "glaze
durability" rather than "safety". You may learn more about
these other variables in our Tip
#53: Glaze toxicity and Dinnerware safety