All Amaco glazes intended for school use - or for commercial use in dinnerware - are labeled either AP (which means non-toxic) or CL (which means that caution is required).
AP glazes are intended for use in schools from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade; CL glazes should be used under adult supervision from seventh grade on.
Federal law mandates the use of only non-toxic materials in kindergarten through sixth grade, and also requires that art materials are labeled according to the ASTM D-4236 standard.
The Federal Hazardous Substances Act requires that children not be permitted access to art materials labeled as "Not recommended for the use of children".
Products bearing this statement are prohibited from being used in schools systems.
The AP or CL seals are issued by the Art and Creative Materials Institute, and certify that the glaze was tested by independent toxicologists and labeled according to federal standards for the safe labeling of artistic materials.
These standards require that any product containing harmful ingredients must be labeled to identify those ingredients, and also carry a warning which identifies health hazards and provides instructions for using the product safely.
The labels on all glazes should indicate whether or not the pottery glazes meet dinnerware safe-testing requirements.
Note that not all non-toxic lead-free glazes are safe for dinnerware.
Additionally, there are some glazes which do meet FDA guidelines for dinner safety but are not suitable for school use; these are for professional use only.
To determine whether a glaze is safe for dinnerware, the label must be read carefully and school pottery projects must be planned accordingly.
It is recommended that producers of dinnerware for sale should submit samples to an independently-approved laboratory in order to test for the leaching or release of dangerous materials such as cadmium or lead in order to meet the FDA guidelines prior to selling dinnerware.
There are many variables which affect whether a given line of dinnerware meets the FDA guidelines such as exact firing temperature, contamination from other pottery being fired together with the dinnerware and glazes which might not provide a surface stable enough for food safety.
Note that even glazes labeled as dinnerware safe such as cone 10 glazes should be fired to the recommended firing temperature.
AP glazes are intended for use in schools from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade; CL glazes should be used under adult supervision from seventh grade on.
Federal law mandates the use of only non-toxic materials in kindergarten through sixth grade, and also requires that art materials are labeled according to the ASTM D-4236 standard.
The Federal Hazardous Substances Act requires that children not be permitted access to art materials labeled as "Not recommended for the use of children".
Products bearing this statement are prohibited from being used in schools systems.
The AP or CL seals are issued by the Art and Creative Materials Institute, and certify that the glaze was tested by independent toxicologists and labeled according to federal standards for the safe labeling of artistic materials.
These standards require that any product containing harmful ingredients must be labeled to identify those ingredients, and also carry a warning which identifies health hazards and provides instructions for using the product safely.
The labels on all glazes should indicate whether or not the pottery glazes meet dinnerware safe-testing requirements.
Note that not all non-toxic lead-free glazes are safe for dinnerware.
Additionally, there are some glazes which do meet FDA guidelines for dinner safety but are not suitable for school use; these are for professional use only.
To determine whether a glaze is safe for dinnerware, the label must be read carefully and school pottery projects must be planned accordingly.
It is recommended that producers of dinnerware for sale should submit samples to an independently-approved laboratory in order to test for the leaching or release of dangerous materials such as cadmium or lead in order to meet the FDA guidelines prior to selling dinnerware.
There are many variables which affect whether a given line of dinnerware meets the FDA guidelines such as exact firing temperature, contamination from other pottery being fired together with the dinnerware and glazes which might not provide a surface stable enough for food safety.
Note that even glazes labeled as dinnerware safe such as cone 10 glazes should be fired to the recommended firing temperature.