Taiwan's plastic tableware can be over-heated by more than 8 times melamine

Plastic tableware has become a commonly used daily necessities of life for modern people. However, the latest research conducted by Kaohsiung Medical University found that in Taiwan, the different types of plastic tableware sold on the market in Taiwan have almost all released melamine when they encounter high-temperature and acid-acid liquids. The rate of 19.03ppm per million is about 8 times the safety standard value of 2.5ppm set by the Taiwan Department of Health.

The Public Health Society of Taiwan and the Epidemiology Society held the 2011 annual meeting on the 16th. The Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute of Kaohsiung Medical University released relevant research results at the meeting and attracted the attention of participating experts. Dr. Wu Mingcang, who is in charge of the relevant research, pointed out that people use plastic tableware at a high frequency, and they will use it for restaurants and food stalls. There are even many families that use plastic tableware at home for convenience. He pointed out that studies confirmed that plastic tableware is the main source of adult exposure to melamine.

According to reports, the research team purchased five plastic tableware with different brands and different price levels. Under laboratory conditions, distilled water and an aqueous solution containing 3% acetic acid were used to imitate the broth that was consumed on weekdays. The contact time and temperature were measured. The difference in the concentration of released melamine. The results showed that all samples released different degrees of melamine, and the concentration increased with increasing temperature. The lowest dissolved amount was 6.97ppm, and the highest was 19.03ppm, which was higher than 2.5ppm that was established by the Department of Health.

Wu Mingcang pointed out that the lower the amount of melamine released from cheaper plastic products, the higher the amount of released melamine was. He warned that many street vendors use cheap plastic products to hold foods. If food temperatures exceed 60 degrees, melamine may be released, and parents are reminded. When selecting bottles and cutlery for infants and young children, care should be taken.

It is understood that excessive inhalation of melamine by the human body will not be excreted, and long-term accumulation may result in reproductive damage, bladder or kidney stones, bladder cancer and other sequelae.