Is Melamine Safe?

Melamine is a nitrogen-based compound used by numerous manufacturers to create a number of products, especially plastic dishware. Because it makes these extremely durable and crack-proof. In addition, it is super cheap to produce and makes products dishwasher safe.

You will commonly find that dishwasher-safe 'bamboo' dishware, for instance, is made with melamine. Similarly, various baby items are made with melamine to minimize breakages when these inevitable get thrown on the floor.

Also, melamine and its salts are used as fire-retardant additives in paints and paper. A melamine fibre, Basofil, has low thermal conductivity, excellent flame resistance and is self-extinguishing; this makes it useful for flame-resistant protective clothing, either alone or as a blend with additional fibres.

Is it safe?

The official line, from the FDA and others, is that melamine is safe when used properly as dishware and for other approved purposes.

This is because extreme heat is used to mold melamine products, with most of the melamine used up in the process. Only a small amount remains in the products themselves. While this can be released if melamine is subjected to extreme heat and acidity, the risk of toxic exposure is considered particularly low.

The FDA also adds the great big caveat that melamine shouldn't be used to heat food, especially acidic food, which means you absolutely don't want to microwave with melamine.

How to minimize our risk from melamine?

If you already have melamine tableware, there's no need to throw these out immediately. After all, that's not great for the environment because melamine isn't recyclable! Consider repurposing melamine items as plant pot holders or storage for parts and pieces in your garage.

If you do decide to use melamine as tableware, here are some tips to minimize your risk from melamine:

Never heat food or drinks in melamine tableware – use ceramic or glass and then transfer once the food is cooled slightly.

• Avoid using melamine tableware for really young infants and children.

• Avoid prolonged contact between very acidic foods and melamine tableware, and don't heat these foods.

• Serve cold or room temperature drinks, dips, and other foods using melamine.

• Continue using melamine trays to carry additional serving bowls, plates, and glassware.