I’m guessing the finish chipped from the store cleaning the pan aggressively, but poorly, given the recent sticker date. Is that unusual? Gonna refinish it myself this week, as long as this isn’t setting off anyone’s alarm bells.
Edit: gonna head to the hardware store for a lead test kit and magnets this weekend, unless someone can think of a better process. Thanks for the advice, all!
I have a data point of size ~5, when a friend purchased a bona fide lump of lead in order to be the control for his lead test strips. And he basically used the test strips in pairs: one on the object in question (eg cast iron pan, ham radio, etc) and then the other against that lump of lead. There have not been any false-negatives from the lump.