Melamine is a nitrogen-based compound used by many manufacturers to create a number of products, especially plastic dishware. It’s also used in:

utensils

countertops

plastic products

dry-erase boards

paper products

While Melamine is widely found in many items, some people have raised safety concerns that the compound could be toxic.

This article will explore the controversy and considerations regarding Melamine in plastic products. Keep reading to find out if Melamine plates should have a place in your cabinets and at your picnics.

Is it safe?

The short answer is yes, it’s safe.

When manufacturers create plasticware with Melamine, they use high heat to mold the substances.

While the heat uses up most of the Melamine compounds, a small amount does usually remain in the plates, cup, utensils or more. If Melamine gets too hot, it can start to melt and potentially leak into food and drink products.

Safety concern

The safety concern is that Melamine can migrate from the plates to foods and lead to accidental consumption.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source has conducted safety testing on Melamine products. Examples include measuring the amount of Melamine leaked into foods when the Melamine was kept at high temperatures against the foods for hours at a time.

The FDA did find that acidic foods, such as orange juice or tomato-based products, tended to have higher levels of Melamine migration than nonacidic ones.

Findings

However, the amount of leaking Melamine is considered to be very small — an estimated 250 times lower than the level of Melamine the FDA considers to be toxic.

The FDA has determined that using plastic tableware, including those containing Melamine, is safe to use. They have established a tolerable daily intake of 0.063 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.

The FDA does caution people not to microwave plastic plates that aren’t specified as “microwave-safe.” Microwave-safe items are usually made from ceramic components, not Melamine.

However, you can microwave something on a microwave-safe plate and then serve it on a Melamine plate.