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Melamine Resin Safety

Melamine, a chemical used in producing melamine resin, caused contamination of pet food and baby formula in 2007 and 2008 respectively, according to a report in "Time" Magazine. This has left some consumers worried about the safety of melamine resin products.

  1. Features

    • Melamine resin is a type of synthetic resin formed by combining melamine and formaldehyde. Products made from this durable resin include many household items such as plastic tableware and counter tops.

    Safety

    • The FDA considers under 2.5 parts per million of melamine in food acceptable except in infant formula. According to the FDA, "melamine does not migrate from melamine-formaldehyde tableware into most foods." While it was found to migrate into acidic foods, this was at much lower levels than are considered a risk.

    Warning

    • Do not expose melamine resins to extreme heat. Melamine tableware cannot be used to heat food in the microwave. The FDA findings showed that very high temperatures did increase the amount of melamine leaking from the resin into acidic foods.

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