What is Melamine? Is it safe to use in dishware?

Many manufacturers use melamine, a nitrogen-based compound, to make various products, including plastic dishware. It is also used in:

• Utensils
• Countertops
• plastic products
• dry-erase boards
• paper products

Although melamine can be found in many products, there are safety concerns about the possibility that it could cause poisoning.

This article will discuss the issues and considerations surrounding melamine in plastic products. Continue reading to learn if melamine plates are appropriate for your picnics and cabinets.

Is it safe to use?

It’s safe, in short.

High heat is used to mold melamine-based plasticware.

Although heat consumes most of the melamine compounds in food, some melamine compounds can be found in plates, cups, utensils and more. Melamine can melt if it gets too hot and could leak into food or drink products.

Safety concerns

There is a risk that melamine could migrate from plates to food and cause accidental consumption.

The Food and Drug Administration has tested melamine products safely. For example, it is possible to measure the amount of melamine that leaked into food when it was stored at high temperatures for long periods.

According to the FDA, acidic foods such as tomato-based drinks or orange juice had higher levels of melanin migration than nonacidic ones.

Find out more

The FDA considers the amount of melamine leaking low, at 250 times the toxic level.

FDA has ruled that plastic tableware containing melamine is safe to be used. The FDA has established a daily limit of 0.06 milligrams for each kilogram of bodyweight per day.

However, the FDA warns people, not to microwave plates that are not “microwave safe.” These plates are made of ceramic components and not melamine.

You can, however, microwave food on a microwave-safe plate, then transfer it to a melamine plate.

Are there side effects or risks?

Melamine poisoning can result from melamine leaching into food. This is the main concern.

In a small study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2013, 16 healthy volunteers were asked to eat hot noodles in melamine bowls. Researchers collected urine samples every two hours from participants for 12 hours following the consumption of the soup.

Researchers detected melamine levels in participants’ urines, peaking between 4 and 6 hours after the first meal of the soup.

Although the amount of melamine in a plate could vary depending on its manufacturer, the researchers detected it from soup consumption.

To ensure that participants did not have melamine in their urine, they took samples before consuming soup. According to the study, long-term harm from melamine ingestion “still should be of concern.”

High levels of melamine can lead to kidney problems such as kidney stones and kidney failure. An article in the International Journal of Food Contamination suggests that children and adults exposed to melamine at low levels may have higher chances of developing kidney stones.

Another concern about melamine toxicities is that doctors aren’t fully aware of the consequences of chronic melamine exposure. Animal studies are the most current source of research. Some signs of melamine poisoning are known to be:

• Urine containing blood
• Pain in the flanks
• High blood pressure
• irritability
• There is very little or no urine production
• Urinary urgency

These signs should be spotted immediately.

Other concerns about melamine

There have also been other types of melamine contamination that are not related to tableware.

Chinese authorities reported that infants fell ill after being exposed to melamine in milk formula. To artificially increase the protein level of milk, food manufacturers added melamine.

A second incident happened in 2007 when pet food made in China but distributed in North America contained high levels of melamine. This led to the death of over 1,000 household pets. This led to a recall of over 60 million dog food products.

The FDA does not allow melamine to be used as an ingredient in food, fertilizer, or pesticide.

Pros & cons

These are the pros and cons of melamine dishware. You can then decide if it is right for you.

Melamine pros

• dishwasher-safe
• durable
• reusable
• Usually, the cost is lower

Melamine cons

• Not for use in the microwave
• Constant exposure can lead to adverse effects