The Usage of Tableware Made of Melamine

In early March 2007 many of us will remember the largest pet food recall in history and was due to the contamination of the pet foods manufactured by Menu Foods. While Menu Foods was the main manufacturer for pet foods, their products went under many labels, from the cheaper store brand labels to the high priced Iambs. The reason for the contamination was that the pet foods contained particles of melamine and instead of being labeled as such, was instead labeled as wheat or rice gluten produced in China. Due to this contamination, pet owners were unknowingly quite literally poisoning their beloved pets in which many became gravely ill to the point of death due to the renal failure that melamine creates.

Then in the fall of 2008, melamine once again came into the news, as it was found that milk products manufactured in China primarily for baby infant formula, and also chocolate products made from the tainted milk. In this case some 300,000 people became sick and at least four infants died as a result. (1)

Only recently I started thinking of the larger implications of the whole melamine issue since we have been using tableware made out of melamine for decades. Have we then contaminating ourselves with this melamine based tableware unknowingly? First, let me describe exactly what melamine is.

Melamine isn't exactly a new type of plastic but was initially created by a German scientist during the 1830s (2) and came into use to make a variety of plastic products and laminates, such as formica floors in the 1930s, plus since it was so durable it became in use as tableware during World War II. Melamine is a combination of nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen to make an extremely hard durable plastic and with the addition of formaldehyde can be further molded into a variety of shapes and forms, such as tableware, that is plates, bowls, and cups. Melamine thus became very popular during the 1950s and 1960s under the name "Melmac". However, Melmac did have the capability to scratch and the tableware could often stain with heavy use, so people began going back to tableware made out of china or glass. Once more however, ever since perhaps the 1990s, more and more melamine type tableware has re-surfaced again. While most of my tableware is made of China, I was amazed that when I began looking at some of my own plastic type plates, soup bowls and cups, upon looking at the labeling on the bottom, I clearly saw the word Melamineware.

When I further began researching into the whole melamine issue, I became alarmed that all, repeat all, tableware targeted for the children's market is made of melamine. Did you buy your child a Barbie, Dora, Care Bears, Hannah Montana or Hello Kitty tableware set? Does it say dishwasher safe but not for use in a microwave? Then that tableware is made out of melamine and without you realizing it, may be contaminating your child using it. While melamine cannot be used in a microwave, stove or oven since it could melt, what about when hot food contacts the melamine plate your child is eating from? Not only is your child being exposed to the melamine, but the formaldehyde made to make this plastic. Research has indeed been conducted in the UK that shows significant leeching of both melamine and formaldehyde upon contact not only with hot foods, but this leeching also occurs with highly acidic foods, such as drinking orange juice out of a melamine cup. (3)

Yes, melamine tableware is convenient, durable, and was considered a blessing for parents who worried over their children breaking less durable tableware made of glass or china, however, prior to it's popularity and usage, parents had been using glass and/or china tableware for centuries without any problems. If melamine has the potential health hazard in that both melamine and formaldehyde can leech into food every time a child eats from such tableware, I think it becomes clear that parents have to consider which is more important? The possible breaking of glass or china tableware or using the more convenient melamine-ware that could be downright hazardous to a child's health over a period of time. I myself have now switched and will only use my china or glass tableware, not only for myself, but believe it or not, I've switched and now use stainless steel bowls for my two cats, after all, why should I risk their health as well?

What is Melamine?

What is Melamine

Melamine (1)

Health Article (2)

Articles about Melamine plateware

Melamineware

Melamine plates

Melamine Story

Pub Med (3)