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Suprising results from an Eyewitness News Investigators Exclusive. Lead paint. We know many homes are contaminated, but what about the plates and glasses you use to serve food to your children? 

 We do all we can to protect our children, but many of us are unknowingly poisoining their little bodies with lead.

We're not talking about the lead paint in homes, we're talking about the lead paint the Eyewitness News investigators found on the very plates and glasses you use to serve food.

For several weeks we've been buying plates and glasses from area stores, with a simple lead paint testing kit we tested them, never expecting to find positive results...but we did, over and over again. "it's pink." "yes it is." "so what does that tell you?" "that there's lead in here."

The investigators took our samples to the rhode island health department. The lead inspector for the state assumed our samples were bought at yard sales or dollar stores, ceramic dinnerware made well before any f.d.a. Regulations...she was mistaken.

"If it's accessible it's definately a problem."

It's accessible alright. The plates, and glasses were from major department stores, and we're talking about major brands.

"The outrage of it all is it's preventable and that's why there should be no lead in glasses."

The Eyewitness News Investigators even asked the department of health to do further lead tests...tests the food and drug administration use...4 out of the 7 samples still came back positive for lead...some exceeding acceptible levels.

But those high levels were found on glasses, and we've learned that the f.d.a. Has absolutely no set standards for drinkware. "shock, anger and outrage that a major retailer coupled with the fact that the fda has no standards for lead in glassware.

"It's just totally unnessesary and totally unacceptable." we reported our findings to the food and drug administration. They have yet to respond to any of our phonecalls.

The FDA. does allow certain levels of lead in dishes, but child advocates and the rhode island health department believe any amount of lead is unacceptable. To protect your family be careful of painted dishes or glasses.

You can easily buy lead paint testing kits from area hardware stores. The Eyewitness News Investigators are also offering free lead testing kits to the first 50 people who contact us. To know more about how to receive yours, log onto our website at wpri.com.