The EU Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is being called upon to carry out a risk assessment on permitted levels of lead migration from ceramics because of fears that current legislation does not provide adequate protection from adverse health effects. Regular consumption of a glass of fruit juice stored in a ceramic jug applying the currently maximum limit for lead migration may result in an unacceptable lead intake, according to a letter from 3 national risk assessment organisations. They claim the issue has been raised by several national authorities with the Commission without any response so far. Therefore, EFSA has been asked to re-evaluate the scientific basis for the maximum migration of lead from ceramic ware. The task could be broadened to cover other heavy metals including cadmium & barium.
