The Nation - News from June 7, 1989

The Food and Drug Administration said it planned a 98% reduction in the amount of lead permitted to reach beverages from ceramic pitchers because of new evidence that extremely small amounts of lead can hurt children. Lead at concentrations tolerable by adults can limit body growth and intelligence of children and can cause brain damage and behavior problems. Lead in pitchers comes from the glaze commonly used to make ceramics smooth and impervious. Officials are most concerned about acidic liquids such as orange juice eating away at the glaze and causing lead to leach. Small cream pitchers would not be subject to the new standard.