– Decoding the "Invisible Safety Line" of Ceramic Tableware

When selecting ceramic tableware, have you ever wondered: Why do some bowls/dishes turn dull over time? Why do they emit odd smells after holding acidic food? These issues all point to ceramic’s “safety DNA”—the dual craftsmanship of glaze and firing. For health-conscious shoppers, choosing ceramic isn’t just picking a material—it’s opting for a “safety system from raw material to table.”

Hidden Risks in Ceramic: Defects and Heavy Metal Migration

Ceramic’s safety hazards lie primarily in glaze layer defects and heavy metal migration. Low-quality ceramic glazes may contain excess lead or cadmium (from cheap mineral sources or unpurified pigments), hiding as micro-particles in glaze pores. When exposed to heat (e.g., hot soup) or acidic foods (e.g., ketchup), these heavy metals slowly leach out, potentially affecting the nervous system or bone health over time.

Mainstream global food contact regulations (e.g., EU EC 1935/2004, U.S. FDA 21 CFR 175.300) strictly limit “migration levels”: lead ≤0.5ppm, cadmium ≤0.05ppm (equivalent to half a grain of salt per liter of water). Yet even compliant ceramics vary in safety—this depends on craftsmanship precision.

How Our Ceramic Builds a Safety Barrier

We’ve set three “safety checkpoints” from raw material screening to final testing:

  • Glaze Formulation: Food-grade inorganic glazes made from natural minerals (kaolin, quartz)—no recycled or industrial additives. Glazes are ball-milled for 12 hours, reducing particle size to <0.5μm (vs. 1-2μm in standard glazes), ensuring a denser layer.

  • High-Temperature Firing: Fired at 1250℃ for 18 hours in an oxidizing atmosphere—like “sterilizing ceramic.” The glaze fully melts, filling micro-pores in the body to form a non-porous glassy layer (standard ceramics often fire at 1000-1150℃ with higher porosity).

  • Quality Control: Every batch undergoes “lead/cadmium leaching tests” (simulating 24-hour immersion in 4% vinegar) and “thermal stability tests” (3 cycles of rapid cooling from 150℃ to -20℃ without cracking). Traceable SGS reports are available (downloadable on product pages).

Why Ceramic Is the “Most Reassuring Tableware Choice”

Ceramic’s “inertness” is its natural advantage: its glaze doesn’t react with food, release plasticizers like some plastics, or absorb stains like unglazed stoneware. Choose qualified ceramic, and it’s a “safe companion for life.”

Your Buying Guide: How to Judge Ceramic Safety

  • Inspect the Glaze: Quality ceramic has a mirror-smooth glaze with no pinholes or bubbles (visible under a magnifying glass).

  • Check Reports: Request “food contact safety test results,” focusing on lead/cadmium levels well below regulatory limits.

  • Test with Acid: Soak in vinegar or orange juice for 24 hours—no odor or discoloration means it’s safe.

Closing: For great ceramic tableware, safety isn’t an “extra”—it’s the “baseline.” We’ve baked our commitment to health into every inch of the glaze.