Your kid’s colorful plates and bowls could be exposing them to a cancer-linked chemical

Melamine is widely used in colourful, shatter-resistant plates and bowls marketed to children, prompting renewed scrutiny over whether it can migrate into food. The concern matters because children may be vulnerable to chemical exposure, although US regulators say tested migration levels are below the threshold they consider toxic and evidence has not established that melamine causes cancer in people.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies melamine as possibly carcinogenic, based partly on animal studies; high exposures have also been linked to kidney damage, while possible hormonal effects remain under study. In 2008, contaminated infant formula in China affected more than 294,000 children and six died. The FDA sets a tolerable daily intake of 0.063 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, and advises against microwaving dishware unless labelled microwave-safe; heat and acidic foods can increase migration.