Hot food in Melamine Dishes Increases Risk of Kidney Stones
Before we know more about this study let us see what FDA says about Melamine Dishes?
What are Melamine Dishes?
Melamine is a chemical that has many industrial uses. In the United States, it is approved for use in the manufacturing of some cooking utensils, plates, plastic products, paper, paperboard, and industrial coatings, among other things. In addition, although it is not registered as a fertilizer in the U.S., melamine has been used as a fertilizer in some parts of the world.
Melamine may be used in the manufacturing of packaging for food products, but is not FDA-approved for direct addition to human food or animal feeds marketed in the U.S.
Health effect of Melamine
It has been found that melamine does not migrate from melamine-formaldehyde tableware into most foods. The only measured migration, in tests, was from some samples (three out of 19 commercially available plates and cups) into acidic foods, under exaggerated conditions (that is, the food was held in the tableware at 160 oF for two hours). When adjusted for actual-use conditions (cold orange juice held in the tableware for about 15 minutes), the migration would be less than 10 parts of melamine per billion parts of juice.
This is 250 times lower than the level of melamine (alone or even in combination with related compounds – analogues – known to increase its toxicity) that FDA has concluded is acceptable in foods other than infant formula (2,500 parts per billion); in other words, well below the risk level. In addition, such highly acidic foods make up only about 10% of the total diet, so the dietary level of melamine in these scenarios would be less than one part per billion.
However, when highly acidic foods are heated to extreme temperatures (e.g., 160 ° F or higher), the amount of melamine that migrates out of the plastic can increase. Foods and drinks should not be heated on melamine-based dinnerware in microwave ovens. Only ceramic or other cookware which specifies that the cookware is microwave-safe should be used. The food may then be served on melamine-based tableware.
Health Risk
The FDA has concluded from its own assessment that the safety risk is very low and within acceptable levels, but they do caution the use of melamine dishes. There appears to be more risk when it comes to infants and children. In this light, my own recommendation would be NOT to use melamine tableware when feeding children.
As for the nice patterned melamine tableware and trays on the market today, since risk is very low, whether to buy and use them is up to you. But if you do, follow these recommended use tips:
•Do not use for infants or children
•Never heat food or drinks in melamine
•Never use melamine in the microwave, unless it is clearly marked 'microwave safe'.
•Acidic foods increase the risk, especially when heated.
•There should be no health risk using melamine dinnerware to serve drinks and foods that have been heated on something else.
•Trays to carry serving items and cold snacks should pose no threat.
How did FDA decide what level of melamine in food doesn’t pose a risk to health?
A safety and risk assessment estimates the risk that specific substances have on human health, based on the best scientific data available at the time. FDA has done this type of assessment to identify the risk posed by melamine and its analogues in foods (Interim Safety and Risk Assessment of Melamine and Its Analogues in Food for Humans).
The risk assessment was conducted by scientists from FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, and included a review of the scientific literature on melamine toxicity. Animal studies also provided valuable information for this work. The assessment underwent peer review by a group of experts identified by an independent contractor.
What problems can melamine cause if people eat or drink food contaminated with it?
Products with melamine contamination above the levels noted in FDA’s risk assessment may put people at risk of conditions such as kidney stones and kidney failure, and of death. Signs of melamine poisoning may include irritability, blood in urine, little or no urine, signs of kidney infection, and / or high blood pressure.
What Are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones usually comprised of a compound called calcium oxalate, are the result of an accumulation of dissolved minerals on the inner lining of the kidneys. These deposits can grow to the size of a golf ball while maintaining a sharp, crystalline structure. The kidney stones may be small and pass unnoticed out of the urinary tract, but they may also cause extreme pain upon exiting. Kidney stones that remain inside the body can lead to many conditions, including severe pain and ureter (the tube connecting the kidney and bladder) blockage that obstructs the path urine uses to leave the body.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
The leading cause of kidney stones is a lack of water. Stones commonly have been found in those that drink less than the recommended eight to ten glasses of water a day. When there is not enough water to dilute the uric acid (component of urine), the pH level within the kidneys drops and becomes more acidic. An excessively acidic environment in the kidneys is conducive to the formation of kidney stones.
Medical conditions such as Crohn's disease, urinary tract infections, renal tubular acidosis, hyperparathyroidism, medullary sponge kidney, and Dent's disease have been known to lead to kidney stones. It also has been suggested that water fluoridation - the addition of fluoride to drinking water - is responsible for some cases of kidney stones.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
A kidney stone usually remains symptomless until it moves into the ureter. When symptoms become apparent, they include:
Severe pain in the groin and/or side
Blood in urine
Vomiting and nausea
White blood cells or pus in the urine
Reduced amount of excreted urine excreted
Burning sensation during urination
Persistent urge to urinate
Fever and chills if there is an infection
How can kidney stones be prevented?
For individuals in good health, preventing kidney stones can be as easy as staying hydrated. Diluting the urine with water keeps the minerals from concentrating and forming stones. When one's urine is clear, rather than yellow colored, the chance of stone formation is reduced. Doctors may also prescribe medicines to prevent certain types of stones for individuals who are at higher risk.
New Research-Eating Hot Foods On Melamine Dishes Increases Risk Of Kidney Stones
Eating hot foods on melamine dishes increases the risk of developing kidney stones.
The finding came from a new study conducted by Taiwanese researchers and was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. The researchers discovered that the amount of melamine we are exposed to increases with hot temperatures, therefore, the chance of developing kidney stones rises. The team, led by Chia-Fang Wu, M.S., Ph.D., of Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan, performed a crossover investigation of consumption of noodle soup in melamine bowls and total melamine excretion in urine. According to background information in the report, a constant exposure to low doses of melamine may be linked to urolithiasis (urinary system stones) in kids and adults. A previous report demonstrated that there was an increase in the number of children experiencing urinary stones due to melamine-tainted formula.
There were twelve healthy people, six were males and six were females, who took part in the research. The 12 participants were split up into 2 groups:
Group one-They ate 500 ml of hot noodle soup in melamine bowls
Group 2-The other group ate soup in ceramic bowls
Twelve hours after the subjects consumed the soup, they were asked to give samples of their urine. After a "three-week washout", the group who ate from the ceramic bowls ate from the melamine bowls and the group who ate from the melamine bowls ate from the ceramic bowls. The participants were asked to give urine samples a second time so that the researchers could compare. The results showed that total melamine excretion in urine for 12 hours was 8.35 micrograms in melamine bowls and total melamine excretion in urine for 12 hours was 1.31 micrograms in ceramic bowls. The scientists concluded, “Melamine tableware may release large amounts of melamine when used to serve high-temperature foods. The amount of melamine released into food and beverages from melamine tableware varies by brand, so the results of this study of one brand may not be generalized to other brands. Although the clinical significance of what levels of urinary melamine concentration has not yet been established, the consequences of long-term melamine exposure still should be of concern. The research received support from the National Science Council, the Taiwan National Health Research Institutes, and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital.
(Source- Journal JAMA Internal Medicine)
