Food Safe Glaze – How to Choose the Right One
Not all glazes are suitable for ceramics used with food and drink. Learn how to interpret glaze labels and what to consider when choosing a glaze and creating finished ceramic ware that is suitable for food and drink.
Suitable for Dinnerware
For mugs, plates, bowls and other ceramics that come into contact with food or drink, choose a glaze labelled Products Suitable for Dinnerware or equivalent information confirming that it is suitable for dinnerware.
The fired glaze surface should be chemically durable and easy to clean.
Suitable for Dinnerware with Clear
Products Suitable for Dinnerware with Clear means that the glaze is suitable for dinnerware when used together with the recommended clear glaze or another compatible glaze.
Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for which glaze should be used with the product, as well as for application and firing.
Decorative Use Only
Decorative Use Only means that the glaze is intended for decorative purposes and should not be used on surfaces that come into contact with food or drink or on the lip or drinking rim.
Applying a clear glaze over a glaze labelled Decorative Use Only does not automatically make it suitable for dinnerware.
Things to Keep in Mind
A glaze may be labelled as suitable for dinnerware, but the finished piece may still be unsuitable if the surface has, for example, deep crazing, cracks or other textures that make it difficult to clean and can collect food residue and bacteria.
For functional ware, it is therefore important that the fired surface is intact, chemically durable and easy to clean.
The labelling applies to the fired glaze surface and assumes that the glaze has been applied and fired according to the manufacturer's instructions.
When testing a new glaze or combining several glazes, always do a test firing on a test piece before using the combination on functional ware.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for clay, application, temperature and firing, as the result can be affected by the glaze, clay and firing conditions.
AP and CL Seals
AP Seal and CL Seal are safety certifications for art materials and do not in themselves mean that a glaze is suitable for dinnerware.
Responsibility for Finished Functional Ware
Glaze labelling is an important guide, but the manufacturer of the finished ceramic ware is responsible for ensuring that commercially sold products meet applicable food-contact and dinnerware safety requirements.
On Art4Fun's product pages, we indicate whether each glaze is suitable for dinnerware. Always check the product information before using a glaze for food and drink.