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Melamine: In Formula, In Candy, In Kids’ Dishes
Janelle Sorensen
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
You may recall the massive pet food recall of 2007 after cats and dogs across the country were getting sick and dying from eating melamine laced pet food. Well, it’s moved up the food chain. For weeks now China has been in the midst of a public health scandal due to the death of four and the hospitalization of thousands of babies fed infant formula laced with melamine. Since then, traces of melamine have been found in an increasing amount of products including milk shakes at a Chinese Restaurant in Austria, infant formula manufactured in New Zealand, Nestle products in Taiwan, cookies in the UK, pretzels in Canada, and imported tainted candy in Connecticut.
Melamine, a chemical used to make plastics, pesticides, fertilizers, and even commercial fish feed, has apparently been added to the milk products to falsely increase the apparent level of protein. Interestingly, melamine alone is of very low toxicity (comparable to table salt), but when it is combined with cyanuric acid, animal studies have suggested that kidney problems occur. This effect is known as synergistic toxicity. It is these two chemicals combined that cause health problems and that is what was ultimately discovered in the dog food debacle. Still, no one seems to be talking about the combo this time around other than the World Health Organization who has released a preliminary report offering safety guidelines for acceptable levels of the contaminants in food, but cautions that their assessment is preliminary and there is still more research needed.
The World Health Organization says that traces of melamine in food pose no harm as it’s quickly eliminated from the body without causing harm. The FDA agrees for the general population, but adds that no level of melamine is safe for infant formula.
This last bit, from the pro-BPA FDA none the less, makes one reconsider the safety of melamine dishware for kids. You know, all those hard plastic plates and cups with adorable pictures and patterns on them. They are often referred to as melamine, but are actually a polymer of melamine and formaldehyde. Two immediate thoughts arise:
• The FDA just publicly announced there is no safe level for melamine in infant formula, so it compels one to believe we shouldn’t be feeding babies using melamine dishware.
• The National Toxicology Program announced in June that more research was needed on melamine and a new public health recommendation needs to be developed. One concern they have is the synergistic toxicity of melamine and cyanuric acid, which we usually are not exposed to simultaneously, but we could easily be exposed to sequentially (e.g. drinking from a melamine cup and then swimming in a pool that uses cyanuric acid as a stabilizer and disinfectant).
• Formaldehyde is a potent carcinogen, so why are we making dishware for children using it?
A quick search reveals that melamine, just like other suspect plastics, leaches its constituents into food and beverages (especially those that are acidic or warm). Here are studies from 1986, 1990, 2005, and 2006. Each of the studies claims the leaching levels are “safe” levels, but historically “safe” levels drop over time and shouldn’t we be considering cumulative “safe” exposures from the wide variety of sources ubiquitous in every day life?
At Healthy Child, we simply and fundamentally believe it’s better to be safe than sorry – especially when the exposure is completely unnecessary. If you have melamine dishes for your kids, perhaps it’s time to retire them to the pretend kitchen play set, a decorative shelf on the wall, the craft supplies cupboard, the bath tub, or the sandbox. Opt for dishware that is made from glass, ceramic, bamboo, stainless steel, or safer plastics (which I’m starting to question even exist).
And, to make things easier for you, we’ll be releasing a printable Pocket Shopping Guide very, very soon!
Posted by Andrew Ault on 08/27/2011 at 06:16 PM
I’m concerned that you are making much ado about nothing. Melamine is non-toxic, and only toxic if it is mixed with cyanuric acid. However, in your article, you state that we rarely come into contact with cyanuric acid. From what I can tell, it is not in any human food or beverage. Therefore, consuming Melamine is harmless, and nothing to worry about. So what is the point of throwing away our dishware? The dishware may contain Melamine, but how much of this non-toxic material is actually consumed by children who eat off of it? Then, even if the child does go swimming, and for the sake of argument, and not conceding the point, there is cyanuric acid in the water, how would the cyanuric acid even come into contact with the infinitesimal amounts that may have come off of the plate containing melamine? Does the child have to drink the swimming pool water? Even if the child does drink the water, would there be enough cyanuric acid in the water to make any reaction at all to the infinitesimal amount of melamine that the child may have consumed?
Posted by Diane on 04/17/2011 at 01:34 PM
The chemical farmaldehyde is in carpet, lamenati and all hardwood. Our homes are infested with chemicals from CHINA. THIS IS A REASON TO GO OUT TO THE STREETS AND PROTEST AGAINST CORPORATIONS.
Posted by natalie on 12/22/2010 at 03:11 PM
Does anyone have any information on Corelle? I used it growing up. It seems to be durable and from what I can gather non-toxic.
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 09/02/2010 at 10:03 AM
Julie - It’s really product specific. Bamboo could have a toxic finish, but the only way to find out is by calling the manufacturer. They’ll likely say it meets federal safety standards, but ask for specific materials and safety data sheets so you can determine yourself if you feel it’s safe enough for your children.
Posted by Julie on 08/19/2010 at 12:11 PM
What about Bamboo dishes made in China? I got a set of red and green salad bowl and soup/salad bowls and plates. I know bamboo itself is safe, but what about the dyes used in the products? Any risk of toxicity there?
Posted by Rebeca on 06/11/2010 at 04:45 PM
Here’s a link to an article on the dangers of melamine.
Posted by Crystal on 01/09/2010 at 03:49 AM
I came across this info while reading up on this, and thought I would share it. I might try it out !!
Dishes made from corn husks!
http://www.dandelionforbaby.com
http://tips.simplygoodstuff.com/naturally-awesome-dishes-for-kids/
Posted by Poquer on 11/02/2009 at 01:40 PM
Thank you for sharing such an informative post. In fact everything you mentioned in your article is entirely new for me. I shared this article with a lot of my friends to avoid using China made.
Posted by London Tours on 09/22/2009 at 02:23 AM
This made me so sad to read about those children in China, I cant imagine what would happen if that same thing happened here in the UK. I ensure none of my nieces toys we have for her come from China at all now, you just cannot take the risk.
Posted by Janelle on 03/04/2009 at 10:38 AM
You’re very welcome Unibet! Kudos to you for trying to be a “green father” for your son. We’re here to help and always happy to hear from the parents who find us useful. Thank you!
Posted by Unibet on 03/04/2009 at 01:40 AM
Hello, thanks for this article, sorry for my English, but i want to say how it is interesting for a young father like me! I try my best to be a “green father,” to improve the health of Kevin, my son. I put your website in my bookmark and I thank you again for sharing all your information!
Posted by Anonymous on 02/24/2009 at 11:15 PM
Well, this is a very valuable post. Thanks for the information you provided about melamine. I will share it with other.
Posted by tg in nj on 02/23/2009 at 08:40 PM
I threw my melamine dishes away a couple months ago. I replaced with Corelle brand dishes, made in the good old USA. My mother had these dishes for us when we were growing up, and while they are not shatter proof, they can take a beating. My son dropped one on the ceramic floor last week and it survived. They are compact for storage, clean easily in dishwasher or by hand, and microwave well too. You can find at Walmart.
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 01/23/2009 at 12:34 PM
Chicago Shoe Girl -
I had never heard of this before, but looked into it and found this article:
http://www.yogamagazine.co.uk/article.php?sectionid=3&articleid=106
It’s an interesting (and frustrating) issue. I wouldn’t get too hung up on this one, though. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
Posted by Chicago shoe girl on 01/21/2009 at 10:27 AM
This is driving me crazy! Why can’t this be stopped? Suddenly, everything my daughter puts in her mouth looks like it could be poison. When I was young we never worried about things like this… Was the danger always here or is this new? What about my passion - shoes? Can the glues or chemicals in shoes leak out and be absorbed by the feet?
Posted by Erika on 12/09/2008 at 03:46 PM
Thank you all for this helpful info. I’ll be skipping the cute little melamine dishes that seemed to be calling my name at the store today.
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 10/20/2008 at 08:10 AM
Melamine is a chemical:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine
When it is combined with formaldehyde, it becomes a plastic resin.
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 10/16/2008 at 06:08 PM
Oh, don’t throw them away, Micaela! I think using them for picnics is a great idea.
Posted by Micaela Preston on 10/16/2008 at 02:46 PM
It’s enough to drive you crazy! I had looked into melamine awhile back and it sure seemed to be one of the safer plastics to use. Now I’m wondering if I should ditch the stack of melamine plates that I use occasionally. On the flip side, I hate throwing things in the trash! Maybe I’ll put them in the basement and just pull them out for picnics. Then the temptation to use them will be lower.
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 10/13/2008 at 08:11 AM
Glass, baby, glass! You are so right, Jennifer!
Posted by che of teak furniture on 10/09/2008 at 01:11 AM
I think it was last year when the issue was about lead in toys. And now it’s melamine. I wonder what is next. This is crazy. I am now too scared to buy things as almost all are made from China.
Posted by Jennifer Taggart on 10/08/2008 at 04:52 PM
Janelle - You bring up good point on full disclosure. For example, many companies are now touting bamboo dinnerware. But what is in the coating? 18 layers of food safe lacquer touts one - but was in it that lacquer? What is allowed under the FDA’s rules for food contact items is scary. See 21 CFR parts 175, 176, 177 and 178. Just check out the list of “indirect” additives used in food contact substances. And keep in mind that the FDA doesn’t see any problem with polycarbonate, polystyrene or melamine for that matter.
Glass baby, glass.
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 10/08/2008 at 02:12 PM
Jennifer brings up great points. Chemicals leaching from melamine dishes (or “safer” plastic dishes) probably don’t need to be the highest priority on the journey to green (especially if you’re not using them in the microwave or with hot foods, you’re handwashing them, and then disposing of them when they are worn).
My house is by no means plastic-free and every parent has to choose their own priorities, but I’m happier (usually) having full disclosure about what’s in something and what it might be leaching/off-gassing/etc.
Glass does seem to be the safest bet (as well as being cheap and recyclable!), but each of us has to use what works for our families. Just like Jennifer uses a combination, at my house we rely on glass, ceramic, and stainless steel at home and pull out the “safer” plastic for food on the go.
What do others use? How do you feel about “trace” amounts of chemicals leaching even from “safer” plastics?
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 10/08/2008 at 11:53 AM
I completely, whole-heartedly agree, Sommer. I am thinking that it’s all about to change soon enough, though. The way the internet is allowing us to share this kind of information and join our voices is beginning to make an impact. Green parents will lead the way to a better future!
By the way - SafeMama posted a great blog about melamine yesterday, too. Check it out at http://safemama.com/2008/10/07/what-is-melamine-a-crash-course/
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Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 08/30/2011 at 09:08 AM
Andrew - The synergistic exposure to melamine and cyanuric acid may indeed be a rare occurrence, so I would agree that it shouldn’t top your list of concerns about toxic exposures. But, that’s not the sole issue - as noted above (last bullet) and in the studies cited, formaldehyde can leach out of the plastic as well. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen.
Again, maybe this doesn’t need to be a priority concern (given the big picture of toxic ubiquity), but we try to provide as much information as possible for each family to make their own informed decisions. If you decide to continue using your melamine dish ware, I would advise you take the precautions we recommend with all plastics used for food and beverages: don’t microwave it, hand wash, and discard or recycle when worn. Heat and scratches increase leaching.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment!