The following information is being disseminated by the FDA regarding a medically urgent, health advisory notice about specific imported cookware sets believed to leach lead into food during cooking. The risk to children, pregnant women, or those who have compromised immune systems is significantly increased. The FDA encourages consumers to refrain from using the recalled cookware set, and to contact the store or website where it was purchased to obtain a refund or exchange. The quoted recall notice has raised awareness of the need to ensure cookware is safely used in food preparation and is not made from potentially toxic substances (including lead). [1]
Product Type: Imported cookware sets (pots, pans, utensils)
Pack Size: All sizes
Risk of Harm: Potential lead leaching during cooking, particularly with acidic foods
Source: FDA Alerts Consumers on Imported Cookware Potentially Leaching Lead – August 2025
The identified cookware is typically imported cookware made by most suppliers of cookware products, and is in the form of pots, pans, and utensils, which could include lead in its construction. Both brick and mortar stores and online sellers have been selling the cookware. [2]
Brand & Product Name | Retailer | Manufacturer | Product Photo(s) | Recall Status |
Kadai/Karahi – Tiger White (PURE ALUMINIUM UTENSILS TM TIGER WHITE RTM NO: 2608606, ISO 9001:2015 Certified Co.) | Mannan Supermarket, 166-11 Hillside Ave., 1st FL, Jamaica, NY 11432 | SARASWATI STRIPS PVT. LTD., India | Two images: silver pot + Tiger White label | FDA unable to identify the distributor responsible for effectuating a recall* |
Type of packaging:
The product is sold in 16 oz family-sized bags available at grocery stores and online.
Product Characteristics:
Bengal King Family Pack Vegetable is a frozen mix of vegetables, normally including carrots, peas, and green beans but may include many other vegetables.
Flavors:
The food product contains various combinations, but the concern is related to the presence of peanuts, not listed on the packaging.
Contamination incident:
The contaminating Bengal King Family pack Vegetable contains undeclared peanuts was confirmed through normal quality assurance testing by the manufacturer. Although peanuts are not an ingredient listed on the label, small traces of peanuts were found in some batches. This is a concern because peanuts are one of the eight major food allergens and may cause extreme allergic reactions in highly sensitive individuals even in extremely small quantities.
Cookware sets from multiple suppliers and particularly overseas cookware sources that lack quality control related to lead.
The potential for lead contamination was discovered through routine testing by the FDA. The cookware tested leached lead when exposed to food, specifically acidic foods such as tomatoes or citrus, which was not identified by the manufacturers at the time of the cookware’s production. Eventually, the testing confirmed that the cookware could carry a great risk of contamination. [3]
The cookware contained high levels of lead, which is a known toxic substance, and leaches into the food during the cooking process. While there was no intentional means by the manufacturers to add lead into these products, the contamination came from a result of poor materials during the manufacturing process. Even though the risk to consumers is specifically involved with the cookware, it is a bigger problem for consumers who use them to actually cook food. [4]
Lead exposure from food cooked in contaminated cookware can cause debilitating and life-threatening health problems, specifically in at-risk populations. Some of the issues involved in lead poisoning are:
Lead can be particularly harmful for young children and pregnant women. Even a little amount of lead exposure can cause lifetime health effects. [5]
FDA Recall Instructions:
The FDA encourages consumers to stop using the affected cookware immediately and return it, for a full refund or exchange. They provide the following instructions:
Regulatory Responsibilities:
The FDA’s primary responsibility is ensuring that food products and cookware meet safety requirements. This recall serves as a reminder to manufacturers about the significance of following the established safety protocols for making and labeling cookware that is free from contaminants that can cause injuries. The FDA will work with manufacturers and retailers to make certain affected items are not available in the marketplace. [7]
Manufacturer Responsibility:
The manufacturers of the cookware have complied with the FDA’s recall process. The affected manufacturers are looking at their manufacturing process, quality control measures, and what steps they can take to prevent this contamination from happening again. They will also increase their testing and inspections procedures.
What to do if you are consumer:
Step | Advisory | Details / Action |
1 | Identify If Products Are Affected | Check the FDA recall list or visit the manufacturer’s website for a list of affected products. |
2 | Do Not Use the Cookware | Immediately stop using the affected cookware. Even if it appears undamaged, it may still leach lead. |
3 | Return the Product for Refund | Return the affected product to the retailer or contact the manufacturer for a full refund or exchange. |
4 | Seek Medical Attention | If you suspect lead exposure or experience symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, or fatigue, seek medical attention. |
What To Do if You Are the Consumer
Step | Recommendation | Details/Action |
1 | Verify the Products are on the Affected List | Search the FDA Product recall site or the reliable news sources you trust to see if your purchase is on the affected list. |
2 | Do Not Eat It | If you purchased and have any affected product in your possession, do not eat it, even if it is unopened or appears safe. |
3 | Return the Product for a Refund | Return it back to the retailer you purchased from to get a full refund. |
4 | Get Medical Help | If you ingested one of the products, and are now having any reaction symptoms, get medical help immediately. Make sure to let the healthcare provider know you are exposed to peanuts. |
The recent FDA recall of several imported cookware sets points to a serious need for food-contact safety, quality control, and labelling transparency. It is well established that children and pregnant women are at serious health risks of exposure to lead, and manufacturers and retailers do not have added risks of being pursued by civil liability claims for negligent manufacturing and/or loss of revenue due to recalls. Consumers should follow FDA guidance; food-contact manufacturers need to adopt new safety protocols; regulatory monitoring must continue to ensure hazardous products do not reach consumers.
FRL can assist both manufacturers and retailers with:
When manufacturers and retailers work with FRL they are limiting their risks, ensuring consumer safety and following/follow through with FDA standards.
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