Iron is a nutrient that is important in preventing lead poisoning. Some traditional dishes, often made in China, contain high levels of lead in the paint, glaze or decorations. The characteristics most associated with lead in these dishes are decoration on top of the glaze, or a rough, chalky feel on the surface of the piece. These traditional dishes are often treasured and used on special occasions. The picture below is an example of these types of dishes.
Some popular foods served in Asian communities are acidic so they leach lead more readily.
Not all manufacturers use lead in dishes. Dishes with the same pattern made by two different manufacturers may contain lead in one case but not in another. The only way to know for sure if the dishes contain lead is to test them. Some traditional patterns do not contain lead. Give examples of patterns that do not contain lead, like the rice pattern.