Is melamine dinnerware safe?

Pelusa214

I know it's the stuff they put in the chinese baby formula that poisoned all those babies.  We were going to buy plates for Christmas we're hosting because they were inexpensive & we could buy the 20+ settings we needed without spending too much $$, but then I saw they were made of melamine & acrylic & decided not to buy them.  Am I being over cautious?  Does anyone know?

Mrs.Zip

I don't know about this, but I'll throw in 2 little tidbits:

1. I ate off melamine plates and bowls that I microwaved (gasp!) all through college. I'm still alive.

2. My MIL has a set of Pfaltzgraff melamine holiday plates/bowls that she'll be serving Christmas dinner on. I wonder ....

 

 

SapphyrEyes

I think this might be a matter or personal preference.  From the things that I've read I'm not going to purposely buy anything that has melamine in it just because it's not even all that safe for adults.  But, my personal opinion is that I'm just so sick of everything being recalled that I really am reverting back to using glass for just about everything in the kitchen.  Is there anyway you could borrow from friends and neighbors (non matching could still look cute if you work it right) or rent a service for the evening? 

MeantToBeWed

Mrs.Zip:

I don't know about this, but I'll throw in 2 little tidbits:

1. I ate off melamine plates and bowls that I microwaved (gasp!) all through college. I'm still alive.

2. My MIL has a set of Pfaltzgraff melamine holiday plates/bowls that she'll be serving Christmas dinner on. I wonder ....

But how long ago were you in college? eating off of the plates is different than ingesting it. and you never know the long term effects.

i think you're fine to eat off it, but don't put in the microwave. and heck, while i'm thinking of it, i probably would only use it for cold foods.

tommigirle

the production of melamine is pretty un-ef. another option could be finding cute mix & match glass/ceramic at a thrift shop or discount store. you might be able to get more use of it, too.

Dobie_Mama

Most of the brands I've seen say no dishwasher, no microwave.

lovebook

I was recently in a similar situation - hosted my parents 25th anniversary and I didn't want to use disposable paper/styrofoam/plastic plates.

 For about $11 total I was able to secure the number of plates I needed by visiting my local thrift stores ... AND I got a ton of compliments on how cute it was that I used real china and that it was mismatched.  I even was able to get mostly floral-design china so it definitely looked like I was purposefully going for the mis-matched, shabby-chic look.

renee143

a few years ago, i bought some glass buffet plates at Garden Ridge.  They were 6 for $5.  I bought 24, and I use them all the time.