The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public not to sell or use certain cookware utensils after discovering they could be leaching significant levels of lead into food.

Because the FDA strictly prohibits the use of lead as a color or food additive (including in food ware, cookware or any food contact surface), the agency actively monitors lead levels in food products and tests for leachable lead to ensure consumer safety.

Since September, the FDA has been listing certain imported kitchen utensils that reportedly had high levels of leachable lead, and has been working to remove the cookware from the market, the administration said in a statement.

Some of the imported cookware products on this list are made of materials such as aluminum, brass and aluminum alloys like hindalium or indalium.

Lead is toxic to humans and can affect all people regardless of their age or health status, the FDA said. There is no known safe level of exposure to lead.

“Even low levels of lead exposure can cause serious health problems, particularly in children and fetuses,“ the statement reads. ”Consuming food with elevated lead levels can contribute to elevated levels of lead in the blood.”

As a precaution, the FDA is urging customers to check their homes for the products and throw out any cookware that may be able to leach lead into food when used for cooking or food storage. These products should not be donated or refurbished.

Liesel Nygard is a summer content intern at MassLive in Springfield and Worcester.

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