Ditch This Dinnerware

With their vibrant colors and breakage resistance, melamine plates, bowls, and cups are popular in households with young children.  A number of previous studies suggest that heat and acid can cause melamine from dinnerware to seep into food – leading to increased risks of urinary stones and kidney problems. Ming-Tsang Wu, from Kaohsiung Medical University (Taiwan), and colleagues propose that a substitution can dramatically reduce this potential exposure problem.  The researchers first measured melamine levels in the urine of study subjects and then  substituted sainless steel boxes and silverware for their hot meals. The melamine levels in their urine decreased after using the containers by as much as 92%. The study authors write that:” Regular use of stainless steel-made meals boxes can mitigate melamine exposure from melamine tableware.”