Scientific opinion on health risks of kitchen utensils made from melamine-formaldehyde plastics

The opinion is a review examines the health risks associated with the use of melamine-formaldehyde plastics for the manufacture of products intended for contact with foodstuffs – table ware and kitchen utensils. As a result of incomplete course of polycondensation processes in the production of polymer, as well scratches the surfaces during the technology of the products, the use of these utensils is often accompanied by increased migration of melamine and formaldehyde in food. The review traces the influence of various factors (temperature, time, pH of the medium, unproper use, surface roughness, wear, etc ) on possible migration of both monomers in food products stored or contact with such ware. Information is provided about existing health risk when using poor quality melamine products or use them in unsuitable conditions. Chemical and toxicological characteristics of two monomers are also discussed. 
The opinion reports the results of the first survey of the Bulgarian market on the migration of formaldehyde and melamine from Chinese melamine-ware. For 3 years samples have been tested to see whether the Specific Migration Limits (SML) for formaldehyde and melamine are being observed. The food simulant 3% aqueous acetic acid was used as this is the most aggressive simulant towards melamine plastics. The test conditions used depended on the labeling but mainly were repeated exposure to the simulant for 2 hours at 70°C. Migration of formaldehyde was detected in 2011 in 53% from the samples and the levels were clearly above the legal maximum at 2-10 times the SML.