The FDA regulates lead amounts in lipstick and color additives in other products.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates lead usage in the U.S. Lead causes a variety of health problems including behavioral problems, seizures, learning disabilities and death, according to the EPA. Many products contain lead, and FDA regulations allow only trace amounts that will not have great health risks.
Cosmetics Color Additives
Cosmetics color additives sometimes contain lead, and FDA lead regulations allow up to 20 ppm (parts per million) concentrations of lead in cosmetics color additives. The FDA explains that lipstick commonly has very small amounts of lead, but that no cosmetics in the U.S. should have enough lead to pose a health risk.
Children's Products
Children are more susceptible to lead poisoning than adults, so the FDA allows smaller amounts of lead in products designed for children. According to FDA regulations, dining products for children, such as silverware and mugs, must release less than 0.5 micrograms per milliliter when placed in a lead leaching solution.
Adult Eating Utensils
FDA lead regulations create minimum allowable levels of lead in adult eating utensils, with slightly higher acceptable amounts than children's utensils. Pitchers, cups and mugs can have up to 0.5 leachable micrograms of lead per milliliter, but silver plated hollowware can have up to 7 leachable micrograms per milliliter. Flatware may legally contain up to 3 micrograms per milliliter. Small hollowware can have up to 2 micrograms per milliliter and large hollowware besides pitchers can have up to 1.
Food Cans
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the FDA bans any food cans soldered with lead.
Children's Candy
The FDA recommends that candy manufacturers keep lead levels in children's candy lower than 0.1 ppm. It warns produces that it will take enforcement action against companies that make products with lead in amounts that may cause health risks. In determining the heath risks of lead amounts in candy, the FDA will consider lead concentrations, how the lead would affect people who eat the candy and data on consumption of the candy.
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