There was a thread at MDC about the lead. A friend shared it with me and I don't have the details anymore but the Rivals have lead in them.
I do know that Hamilton Beach c. pots are lead-free. I've been cooking in my Rival for 9 years--just lovely.....
ETA: I think the only way meat wouldn't fully cook is if you don't cook it long enough....C.pots are *slow* cookers.
Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it.
--Moses Maimonides