Melamine resin products release harmful substances

Health Hazard Kitchen utensils - Melamine resin products release harmful substances when heated

13/05/2011

Kitchen utensils made of melamine resin, can deliver harmful amounts of melamine and formaldehyde into the food, warned the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). The use of the articles made of melamine resin when heating the food is therefore strongly discouraged, explained the BfR.

For example, melamine resin is used in the manufacture of cutlery, cooking spoons, cups, plates and bowls, and is becoming increasingly popular due to its resistance to breakage. However, when heated, harmful levels of melamine and formaldehyde can be converted into foods, the BfR warned. Even in the air, after the melamine resin kitchen utensils have been heated, critical concentrations of volatile formaldehyde can occur, the BfR experts explained.

Melamine resin kitchen appliances released melamine and formaldehyde
The investigation of the melamine resin kitchen appliances by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the supervisory authorities of the federal states has shown that the limit values ​​for the transition of melamine and formaldehyde into foods are significantly exceeded when heated. Therefore, the BfR yesterday (May 12) issued a warning about the use of kitchen appliances made of melamine resin. These should generally not be heated, as a health-threatening contamination of the food could be the result, explained the BfR. The temperatures produced by cooking, roasting or microwave cooking may cause the material to decompose, causing substantial quantities of melamine and formaldehyde to enter the food, the experts explained. The risk is particularly high in the processing of acidic foods such as fruits and vegetables, the BfR warned. The decomposition of the melamine resin products is recognizable on the surface according to the BfR experts. The objects lose their smoothness and shine. If the surfaces are already attacked, the decomposition process is accelerated and increasingly large quantities of melamine and formaldehyde leak out, warned the BfR.

Kitchen utensils made of melamine resin should not be heated
The President of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Prof. Andreas Hensel explained that „Consumers Do not use melamine dishes and kitchen utensils for frying, cooking or heating food in the microwave“ should. However, it is unproblematic for the person skilled in the art to use the articles made of melamine resin at temperatures below 70 degrees Celsius. As an orientation for the possible health damage caused by the entry of melamine served the BfR the provisions of the EU Regulation on plastics in contact with food. The EU sets a maximum migration limit of 30 milligrams per kilogram for the transition from melamine to food. Just last year, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-classified melamine and lowered the acceptable daily intake. However, the migration limit for melamine products was not adjusted. For carcinogenic formaldehyde, a migration limit of 15 milligrams per kilogram has long been in place in the EU.

Threats to health due to melamine and formaldehyde
While at temperatures below 70 degrees Celsius no harmful amounts of melamine or formaldehyde go into the food, the migration limits are significantly exceeded at higher temperatures, the BfR said. In addition, since formaldehyde is extremely volatile, the indoor air can be significantly burdened and there are health problems caused by the inhalation of formaldehyde. Significant exposure to formaldehyde can result in health consequences such as allergies and irritation of the skin, respiratory tract or eyes. In addition, there is an acute mortal danger from a concentration of 30 milliliters per cubic meter due to possible toxic pulmonary edema. In addition, formaldehyde can cause memory, concentration and sleep disorders during long-term stress. In addition, formaldehyde since 2004 by the World Health Organization (WHO) as „carcinogenic to humans“ classified. The BfR also has a reclassification of formaldehyde as „carcinogenic to humans“ and gave a rationale for recent epidemiological studies showing increased mortality from nasopharyngeal tumors in industrial workers who have been regularly exposed to formaldehyde. (Fp)

Picture: Uschi Dreiucker