DEAR READER:
To begin with, people used to call dishes “china”. While many dishes certainly came from China and were appropriately named, the connotation stuck. Now a plate or bowl, no matter where it is manufactured, is referred to as china. The media recently covered a news item that some serving dishes manufactured and glazed in Mexico were found to contain lead. People who were in possession of such pieces were urged to test the products for lead content.

If you have any doubt about what you own, I suggest you purchase a home-use kit that can detect lead in plastic and metal toys, painted surfaces, fine china, ceramic ware, and jewelry. There are numerous companies available online, such as www.leadinspector.com, that sell kits. Spend the money, get the peace of mind, or do without those much-loved dishes.

Now, on to the quilt issue. I can’t imagine in my wildest dreams how a quilt could contain lead unless it is made from a metallic component. Let’s put this one out to the readers for their input.

A doctor in Dallas, TX gave me the information. I have used the kits on several occasions. They are very simple to use and inexpensive. I hope this helps some of your readers. Keep up the good work.

DEAR READER: You are a Godsend. Since publishing my column on dinnerware glazes that may contain lead, I have received hundreds of letters regarding the difficulty of trying to find a suitable resource for testing. Now you have solved the problem. Thank you.

The company has a website at www.leadcheck.com, where you can order lead-testing kits or get more information. The price depends on the kit you order, but I saw one for as little as $19.

So readers, you now have a resource for lead testing kits. Let me know how they work and I will provide a follow up in a future column.