Melamine dinnerware

Melamine is an organic compound, created by combining urea with formaldehyde to produce a hard and sturdy resin. Melamine resin is fire and heat resistant, durable, and versatile. It is used to produce tiles, whiteboard and a variety of kitchen items, including Melamine dinnerware.:

Melamine resin is often used in kitchen utensils and plates (such as Melmac). Melamine resin utensils and bowls are not microwave safe, as they absorb the microwave radiation and heat up.[1] As with all thermosetting materials, melamine resin cannot be melted and, therefore, cannot be recycled through melting.:

During the late 1950s and 1960s Melamine dinnerware became highly fashionable. Aided crucially by the stylish modern designs of A. H. Woodfull and the Product Design Unit of British Imperial Plastics, it was thought to threaten the dominant position of ceramics in the market. The tendency of melamine cups and plates to stain and scratch led sales to decline in the late 1960s, however, and eventually the material became largely restricted to the camping and nursery market:

Melamine dinnerware is not breakable, making it an apparently good choice for families and children. It is dishwasher safe. It is not microwave or oven safe. The dishes are light, can be molded into various shapes and designs, and can be brightly colored or printed. By all appearances, melamine dishes are practical and convenient:

Melamine has, unfortunately, been added to pet foods and infant formula as a cheap filler. Chemically, the substance shows up as a protein if a nutritional analysis is performed. In humans, melamine can cause kidney stones and renal failure. Both cats and dogs have died from melamine-contaminated pet foods. While it is clear that consuming melamine is dangerous, does that mean that melamine dishes are dangerous? Some melamine dishware may leach melamine monomer. This is especially true if your melamine dishes are scratched or damaged. You can reduce the risk of leaching by gently hand washing melamine, avoiding heating your Melamine dinnerware and disposing of damaged melamine. Bamboo, BPA-free plastics, stainless steel and glass or china are safer alternatives: