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Southtable — Complimentary insured shipping on U.S. orders over $100 USD. Own-design stoneware — lead & cadmium tested to FDA limits. Ships worldwide · Priced in USD
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Help · Compliance

Food safety & care

Our pieces touch food, so we take their safety seriously and tell you plainly what's tested for food use and what's purely decorative.

Last updated June 17, 2026

Food-safe tableware

Plates, bowls, cups, glasses, flatware, serveware and our boards are made to hold and serve food. Food-contact surfaces are tested to the lead and cadmium limits set by the U.S. FDA and California Proposition 65.

Decorative pieces

A few items — our table centerpiece bowl and decorative napkin rings — are made to be looked at, not eaten from. They are clearly labelled not for food contact on every product page.

How we test

Food-contact glazes and materials are formulated and tested to stay within the extractable lead and cadmium limits that the FDA sets for ceramic foodware (FDA Compliance Policy Guides 545.450 and 545.400) and within California Proposition 65 thresholds. We test production batches and keep records of the results.

Certificates of analysis

A certificate of analysis for a food-contact set is available on request — just email support@southtable.shop with the product name. For customers in the EU, our food-contact ceramics are made to comply with EU Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and the German LFGB framework for materials intended to contact food.

Food-safe vs. decorative — how to tell

Every product page carries a clear marker: a Food-safe badge for tableware, or a Decorativebadge for pieces not intended for food contact. Please don't serve food on decorative pieces — use them to style the table and keep food on the tested tableware.

Caring for each material

  • Stoneware ceramic— dishwasher and (unless noted) microwave safe. Avoid sudden temperature changes and don't use on a stovetop or under a broiler. Bakeware is oven-safe to the temperature stated on its page.
  • Glassware— dishwasher safe on the top rack; not microwave safe. Avoid thermal shock (don't pour boiling liquid into a cold glass).
  • 18/10 stainless flatware — dishwasher safe; dry promptly to keep it bright. Never microwave metal.
  • Wood (boards & servers) — hand-wash only, dry upright, and re-oil periodically with a food-safe mineral oil. Never dishwasher or microwave.

A note on natural variation

Reactive glazes pool and vary slightly piece to piece — that's a feature of handmade-style ceramics, not a fault. Small differences in tone and texture are normal and make each piece its own.

Questions about safety or care? Email support@southtable.shop, or see each product's care section and our FAQ. SOUTHERN TABLE LLC.