Lodge Cookware Standards
A Letter from Lodge Manufacturing
RE: Import Product Sampling
To Whom It May Concern:
Lodge Manufacturing Company is an active member and supports the Association of Cookware and Bakeware Manufacturers in the United States and Canada.
Since 1922, the Cookware Manufacturers Association has serve both the public and its members with information, statistics and standards for cookware, bakeware and kitchenware. The Association provides numerous services for members including standard development, statistical information, research, reports and government monitoring. These standards count as the U.S. Government does not regulate cookware, partially due to the industry's own self-policing through the years. (Taken from the CMA Web page: www.cookware.org)
As there are no FDA Standards for cast iron cookware, we utilize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Test Procedure 7.5.1.4a Leachability of Lead and Cadmium for Glazed Ceramic Surfaces. The FDA Division of Compliance Program uses ASTM-C738 as the Standard Method of Test for glazed ceramic. In addition to information provided by vendors, Lodge Manufacturing Company uses third party testing to ensure that products with the Lodge name comply with standards set forth by the United States Food & Drug Administration. All our domestic as well as imported cookware complies with the FDA Standards.
California's Proposition 65 set lead levels for foodware surfaces using ASTM-C738, but an allowable concentration for cadmium has not been established as stated in the California Prop 65 Website. Lodge products, both those produced domestically and imported, are in compliance with the Proposition 65 foodware surface lead standard.
Lodge currently does not sell a nonstick coated product and therefore the FDA regulations for nonstick coatings would no apply. Lodge cast iron cookware is "seasoned" with a food grade cooking oil.
The steps below are taken in an effort to ensure that these items are of the highest quality possible, and we will continue to monitor all Lodge enamel cookware very closely.
- Representatives from the upper management level of our Company, as well as some of our Manufacturing experts travel to China several times a year to inspect the manufacturing facilities and the process being used to make sure that our cookware is being produced per our stringent guidelines.
- A third party American company located in China has been enlisted to perform random inspections of the Chinese manufacturer's facilities and process.
- We periodically send imported product samples to independent labs for analysis.
- Porcelain enamel is a glass coating, not lead paint, and is used for a variety of food related purposes, including cookware, pottery and grills. Porcelain enamel has proven to be safe and attractive for cookware.
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