How harmful are aluminum cookwares for pregnant and new mothers? Click for details 

The cookwares made from aluminium, aluminium alloys and brass were tested by the FDA and other state agencies. After these tests it was found that they can leach into food and ultimately harm the consumers.

Post Published By: Sona Saini

Updated : 27 November 2025, 1:26 PM IST

Aluminium cookwares are harmful for new mothers (Image: iStock)

Washington DC / New Delhi: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers that aluminum and alloy cookware may pose a risk of lead exposure, as the toxic metal can leach into food and cause harm. 

Therefore, the FDA has listed in this ‘harmful’ list about 19 types of cookwares that may contain lead. All these cookwares are manufactured outside America and the most of them in India. 

The cookwares made from aluminium, aluminium alloys and brass were tested by the FDA and other state agencies. After these tests it was found that they can leach into food. 

Lead poisoning can cause symptoms like vomiting, abdominal pain, appetite loss, memory loss and even pain in hands or feet. 

Earlier the FDA had issued an alert in August also about these cookwares. 

Harmful For Childbearing Mothers & Children 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that lead can be quite dangerous to children. It can harm their brain, nervous system and can affect their growth. 

Lead is especially harmful for childbearing women and new mothers, particularly who are breast feeding their infants. 

Here are some potential risks for childbearing, breastfeeding mothers and their babies: 

1. Lead exposure may increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.
2. Babies born to such mothers may be premature or low birth weight
   
3. Such mothers may have more risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension and high blood pressure. 
4. Lead in the mother's bones can sneak into the bloodstream and reach the fetus. And ultimately may hamper the proper development of the child. 
5. It may affect the baby’s brain and nervous system, and even kidney. This may result in the poor performance of the child throughout his academic career. 
6. Lead can be there in her breast milk that may pass to her baby. 
7. Chronic lead can result in fatigue and weakness in mothers. It will have overall bad effect on her performance in all aspects of her life.
   
8. Children born to such mothers may have the risk of obesity.