Yeah, I think it matters. If there’s lead in the underlyng clay, any unobserved cracks or pores will be in contact with the food.
Remember, too that many vessels’ covers aren’t glazed at all. Maybe the food itsel won’t contact those surfaces, but what of the condensate dripping and running bacl into the food?
Thanks! I won’t be resurrecting that piece, and I probably won’t donate it either. I’m sure its not worth testing.
I found this case on pub med and this from the fda
That’s an odd way to start…
Now THIS advice is dangerous. If the clay has lead, don’t use it. If you like the piece keep it on display.
Apparently some customers use the clay products they buy from La Tienda as serving dishes only.
Ah, so.
You’re giving me a guilt trip (okay, inspiration 
) about the one I carried back from Tunisia but never use! (I spy a diffuser under there…)
I feel your pain!
I once had a horrendous travel day in which everything went wrong and after a long, sweaty, grueling day of trying to get to the beach from Bangkok, I was left in Ban Phe instead of meeting friends in Ko Samed. So I checked into a hotel, took a shower, started to feel better and walked out to the outdoor bar at my hotel. The bar tender asked how my day was, I vented a bit, we laughed, he handed me my beer and a medium sized beetle fell in it shortly after I took my first sip.
We both just looked at the beer and verified, yes, we did not imagine a beetle diving into the beer.
I retreated to my room, sans beer.
