Caribbean Green
We recently learned that the manufacturer of our Caribbean Green glaze is recommending it be limited to decorative uses only and not for serving food. The reason they gave is that this glaze contains copper and in some testing they performed, they observed it was possible to cause copper levels in the contents of a glazed container to exceed the published standard for drinking water. They also noted that there are no published safety standards which the glaze itself fails to meet.
With this information, we did some additional research and were reminded of several mitigating factors. First, the drinking water standards cited are for water consumed every day over the course of years, which is very different than the occasional use and minimal amount which a glazed container might contribute to someone’s copper consumption. Copper is not considered to be one of the more harmful chemicals. In fact, copper is a natural mineral our bodies need in small amounts. Most homes use copper pipes to carry all their drinking water. Copper mugs are used to make popular drinks. Many regularly cook with copper pots, pans, and kettles.
Many of us at The Wheel House have made many pieces glazed with the Caribbean Green which we’ve used as food containers and more. We certainly recognize the importance of this recommendation from the manufacturer and share an interest in understanding what it means for us and our members and students. Taking all this into consideration, we see the recommendation as more of a very conservative precaution rather than a cause for alarm. Even so, you, like we, might prefer to stop using your Caribbean Green pieces for serving food. If so, our pieces are still beautiful and safe to enjoy as decorative work, and they can certainly still be used for display, serving dry items, or as gifts with that context in mind.