Melamine from Plastic Bowls found in Urine

Jojy Cheriyan MD;MPH August 16,2013

Many of you may remember the Chinese Infant Milk Formula Scandal in 2008 caused by adulteration of infant milk with melamine to give color and fattiness. By November 2008, China reported an estimated 300,000 victims, with six infants dying from kidney stones and other kidney problems; an estimated 54,000 babies were hospitalized.

In 2007, a year before this scandal, the US-FDA (United Stated Federal Drug Administration) had detected melamine in pet foods imported from China and imposed a ban which turned out to be futile when melamine contaminated eggs and other food products were reported in 2008, despite the ban .This adulteration was traced to melamine being added to poultry feeds and cattle feeds imported from China. In 2008 European Union also banned import of Chinese Infant Milk Products, followed suit by several other countries. US FDA also found traces of melamine in a product of leading brand like Nestle and one Mead Johnson infant product.

A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) (February 25,2013) reported that consumption of hot noodle soup served in melamine bowls would increase total urinary melamine excretion. In this small study involving 16 healthy volunteers, results showed significantly more melamine (8.35 micrograms) in urine 12 hours after eating soup from melamine bowls. This was found to be low after 3 weeks of wash out period, when they ate from ceramic bowls (1.31 micrograms).

Previous studies have also reported leaching of melamine from table wares into foods. This can be more when melamine bowls are heated in microwave oven or any type of heating.

In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.2 mg/kg body weight, down from 0.5 mg/kg. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also set the same standard. The US FDA retained its TDI of 0.63 mg/kg but issued a melamine safety and risk assessment which declined to set a "safe" level for infant formula, but declared that up to 2.5 parts per million (ppm) of melamine in foods other than infant formula can be considered safe.

A study in 2011 by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment reported that melamine cookware and crockery are not suitable for microwaving, cooking, or exposure to high temperatures. The German Federal Agency also found that leaving melamine cookware in contact with cooking foods for longer periods can cause formaldehyde to be released at levels above the international standard limits that are considered safe. Formaldehyde has a range of known hazards- for being a suspected carcinogen, a toxic substance by all routes of exposure, and a cause of several skin and respiratory allergies.

Uncertainty still remains whether melamine cook wares and table wares be fully banned or regulated . While study after studies report health hazards of melamine and associated formaldehyde poisoning, the safe limit standards set by international agencies and US-FDA provide this billion dollar industry with a cover to boom. Therefore it is your responsibility to protect your health and your family's health from the hazards of melamine.

Precautions for safe use of Melamine Dishes and Cook wares:

1.DO NOT use melamine utensils intended for cooking, such as spoons, spatulas, etc, since they get exposed to heat that can release melamine and formaldehyde into the food you cook. But you can still use these items for cold applications like tossing salads or serving cake.

2.DO NOT microwave melamine. The dishes can crack or blister when hot, and will accelerate breakdown of melamine.

3.DO NOT wash melamine items in high temperature dishwashers.

4.DO NOT serve hot foods to children in their 'fancy kids' plates or cups' made with melamine. Let food cool to a safe temperature before adding it to child's plate or cup.

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