REUSABLE KITCHEN – AND TABLEWARE MATERIAL STABILITY TESTING WITH REGARD TO SPECIFIC MIGRATION OF MELAMINE AND FORMALDEHYDE

Abstract

Reusable melamine and bamboo kitchen and tableware containing melamine-formaldehyde resin as a filler and binding agent are popular among consumers. It has been found that melamine and formaldehyde can migrate into food and have adverse effects on human health. European legislation sets two conditions that reusable items must meet - they must meet specific migration limits and material stability requirements. This work aimed to test the compliance of reusable kitchen and tableware containing melamine-formaldehyde resin in terms of material stability. The test was carried out on 10 items made of melamine and bamboo. A Standard HPLC–UV method for melamine and spectrophotometric method for formaldehyde were used. The results for melamine migration varied. In 40% of the samples, the material did not comply with the legislation. In one item, the specific migration limit (SML) was exceeded by 8 times. In certain products, material instability has been established. In 30% of the samples, melamine migration was below the LOD, and the material demonstrated stability. Formaldehyde migration results were below the SML in all but one sample, which exceeded the limit by more than four times. In 27% of the samples, an increase in formaldehyde migration was found during the second exposure. However, according to the calculated value of │Z│, the material is considered stable under the legislation. For 40% of the items, formaldehyde specific migration levels were below the LOD. Therefore, the material stability testing of reusable kitchenware and utensils demonstrated non-compliance with the requirements of the legislation in more than half of the melamine and bamboo items tested. This can lead to unpredictable migration from bamboo and melamine products during their repeated use and raises concerns about the health of consumers.