I have owned several slow cookers over the years. The most recent one was a beautiful one that I purchased at Target, black and white from Crock Pot. However after reading a number of articles online, I realized that I might have a problem on my hands with the lead. I researched the matter and discovered that the glaze often contains lead. Upon researching further, I discovered that the Cuisinart model was BPA free. It is not easy to find kitchenware that is BPA free. I was pleased to see that. The next question was, was it lead-free? I called Cuisinart and they adamantly indicated that the slow cooker was lead free.For someone who needed to use her crock pot daily, almost 24/7, I really need a healthy crock pot. What is the point of cooking healthy foods if the container that I cook them in, is hazardous to my health? I was hesitant about the bulk aspect of the unit because I have a small kitchen and was concerned that it would take a lot of space. However based on the Amazon reviews and on the fact that the slow cooker is both BPA and lead free, I decided to order it. I could not have made a better choice on the planet!!!! First of all, this is the FIRST slow cooker that I have owned that is cool to the touch. Second, my food does not boil on low, and I lose ZERO water content. I needed an excellent slow cooker to make bone broths which have tremendous medicinal qualities (see Weston A. Price Foundation). And I had read about some persons being so serious about bone broths, that they had a perpetual broth going. To do that, I did not want to come home to a fire because of a deficient slowcooker. With this Cuisinart, I can make a lot of bone broth, the broth keeps going for 3 days, and after 24 hours, I do not have to worry, it goes to warm and then shuts down. because it is cool to the touch, my counter is not heated as was the case with the cheap crock pot brand. As for the bulk size, the slow cooker looks very beautiful on my counter. I have so far made lots of chicken broth, delicious, beef broth and fish broth. I use the bones for beef (knuckles, cartilage and feet as well as bone marrow), for fish (the heads) and for chicken (feet, back, head). I have noticed great improvement in my health, digestive system, excellent sleep. Please read online about all of the benefits of bone broth which man has been doing for thousands of years. Anyway, you will NOT regret purchasing this cuisinart. It is really of a very good quality. Enjoy!!!!Whatever negative review may be out there, I would not worry about it. It is probably a unique single incident. You will ENJOY your Cuisinart slow cooker. And for the price, BPA and Lead free!!!! Enjoy.