The tableware you use every day, using it incorrectly is equivalent to chronic "poisoning"! Be careful of these 7 types of materials →

Tableware is something we come into contact with every day. We cannot do without it for every meal. It is made of a variety of materials, including ceramic, glass, stainless steel, imitation porcelain, plastic and so on.

However, there are rumors that imitation porcelain and plastic tableware contain formaldehyde? Is it toxic and carcinogenic? Is this true? What material is best for tableware?

01

Porcelain tableware

Contains formaldehyde and melamine?

The main component of melamine resin is melamine resin, and the raw materials of melamine resin are melamine and formaldehyde. These two substances are poisonous substances that people are afraid of, so can the melamine tableware at home still be used?

Melamine resin is a very stable polymer formed by the reaction of formaldehyde and melamine, and it will not decompose into formaldehyde and melamine by itself. However, this reaction often cannot achieve 100% conversion efficiency, and the formaldehyde that has not completely reacted may volatilize.

There are two main factors that affect formaldehyde volatilization: plasticizer content and operating temperature.

In the process of producing tableware, manufacturers will add plasticizers to melamine resin for shaping. Plasticizers are a type of small molecules used to improve product quality and make plastic products more fluid during processing. However, they will also make free formaldehyde in the product more easily precipitated. The specific amount will vary depending on the materials used.

Among the common imitation porcelain bowls on the market, the materials are divided into A1 melamine, A3 melamine, A5 melamine and A8 melamine according to the different ratios of plasticizer and melamine resin.

A1 and A3 melamine

The content of melamine resin is low, while the content of plasticizer is high, so A1 and A3 melamines cannot actually be used in tableware. They are highly toxic, not resistant to high temperatures and corrosion, and will release formaldehyde at higher temperatures, especially when serving hot soup, the formaldehyde will dissolve directly into it.

A more toxic inferior imitation porcelain tableware is made of urea-formaldehyde resin to impersonate melamine resin. This material will decompose and release formaldehyde gas at 80℃, so it is not allowed to come into direct contact with food according to national standards.

A5 and A8 melamine

ꔷ Different uses

A5 melamine: cannot be used for melamine-ceramic tableware, the product is not stain-resistant and is prone to discoloration and fading.

A8 melamine: can be used for simulant porcelain tableware, with exquisite appearance, light weight, heat preservation and safe use.

Different ingredients

A5 melamine: contains 70% melamine resin and the other 30% additives, starch, etc.

A8 melamine: Made of 100% melamine resin, non-toxic and odorless.

In the range of -30℃～150℃, the amount of formaldehyde released by qualified melamine tableware is negligible and will not affect human health. Therefore, please pay attention to the temperature when using it and do not heat it.

suggestion:

When buying melamine-like tableware, it is not easy to distinguish A1 melamine, A3 melamine, A5 melamine and A8 melamine with the naked eye, so the safer approach is to buy them through formal channels (such as supermarkets and shopping malls), and remember not to buy them just because they are cheap.

02

Does plastic tableware contain formaldehyde?

Plastic tableware is cheap, not fragile, and easy to use, so it is also the choice of many families. However, there are rumors online that plastic tableware will release formaldehyde when heated and may cause leukemia? Is this true?

In fact, common plastic tableware and food-preserving boxes are generally made of polypropylene, which is the most heat-resistant among plastic tableware. Its number in the national standard is "5". The main raw material is propylene, and it requires almost no plasticizer. Formaldehyde does not exist in this material, so the statement that formaldehyde is precipitated after heating is incorrect.

Maximum heating temperature:

Generally speaking, plastic tableware is safe and reliable when used below 100°C. If the temperature is too high, it is easy to deform or release harmful solvents. In addition, polypropylene is the only plastic tableware that can adapt to microwave heating, but it is only recommended to heat it for a short time at 700W to avoid overheating.

03

Understanding Plastic Products

There are seven types of commonly used plastics, which are found in the following items. Among them, plastic products marked 1, 2, 4, and 5 are safer. Formaldehyde cannot be found in these plastics, but if they are used incorrectly, other toxic substances may appear.

1. Polyethylene terephthalate:

Common products: beverage bottles, bottled water, daily chemical products.

Note: Heat-resistant up to 70℃, easily deformed, may release carcinogens after 10 months of use. It is safer to use once or twice, and excessive and repeated use is not recommended.

2. High-density polyethylene:

Common products: food and pharmaceutical packaging and cleaning and bathing products, such as yogurt bottles, chewing gum bottles, shower gel bottles.

Note: Not easy to clean, not recommended for recycling.

3. Polyvinyl chloride:

Common products: plastic bags, table mats, toy yellow ducks, skipping ropes, erasers.

Note: It will release harmful substances when exposed to high temperature and oil, and should not come into contact with food.

4. Low-density polyethylene:

Common products: plastic wrap, plastic bags, tube packaging for toothpaste, etc.

Note: Avoid high temperatures and avoid contact with oily foods.

5. Polypropylene:

Common products: food storage boxes, plastic fast food boxes, straws, toys, washbasins, etc.

Note: It is safe and reliable to use below 100℃. If the temperature is too high, it is easy to deform or precipitate harmful solvents. It can adapt to microwave heating, but short-term heating at 700W is only recommended.

6. Polystyrene:

Common products: fast food boxes, transparent packaging boxes, disposable plastic tableware, self-service trays, etc.

Note: Avoid high temperatures, otherwise there is a risk of releasing "aromatic hydrocarbons", a type of carcinogen. It can only be used once, cannot be heated repeatedly, and cannot be used for microwave heating.

7. Others:

Common products: water cups, mineral water buckets, suitcases, yoga mats, melamine tableware, etc.

Note: Except for copolyester, it is not suitable for contact with food.

04

We should choose

What material are the tableware made of?

In summary, among various plastics, polypropylene is the best choice. But even for polypropylene, you should pay attention to the conditions of use and replace it in time.

In comparison, although glass and ceramics are fragile, they are safer than plastic and melamine tableware, and there are more choices in appearance and shape.

If you must use plastic or melamine tableware, especially for children, you must understand the relevant knowledge, judge whether the product is safe, use it at the specified temperature and replace it in time.

This article review

Director of Hunan Science Writers Association; Deputy Director of Research and Publicity Department of Hunan Science and Technology Association; Second-level Researcher; Chinese Science Writer (Medical) Li Nannan