When Grandmother Dylan Kendall discovered that melamine, the #1 plastic in the kids dishware market, is toxic, she knew she had to do something about it. She said; “We know its toxic but the FDA skirts around it like they do with many chemicals that we shouldn’t be exposed to – melamine causes kidney stones when ingested, and it can be late in life too.” What’s most frightening is many high end brands sell melamine as an “eco-friendly” alternative to traditional plastics, but it’s nothing of the sort.
According to Organic Authority;
Melamine is a chemical used in making plastics, adhesives and industrial coatings. In the U.S., melamine is used to manufacture plastic products, paper, paperboard and kitchenware, including bowls, plates, mugs and utensils, as well as other products. In other countries melamine is even used as a fertilizer, although it’s not “registered” for that use in the U.S., according to the FDA. Melamine is also the very same chemical found in tainted baby formula that killed six babies in China in 2008 and sickened thousands more. A January 2013 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that melamine can leach from dishes into food, and consequently your body, if you use melamine tableware with hot foods. The study looked at 12 individuals. Six ate hot soup for breakfast out of melamine bowls and the other six ate it out of ceramic bowls. The study found higher levels of melamine excreted from the individuals’ urine after using a melamine bowl as opposed to a ceramic bowl.
Want to really freak yourself out? Read the melamine wiki page.
We were shocked to open our own cabinets and find endless melamine products – from trays from Pier 1 to bowls from Baby Cie and Pottery Barn Kids!
So what did worried Grandma and eco-conscious vegan smartie Dylan do? She went on the hunt for a better plastic that wouldn’t damage our oceans. During her 16 month long search she discovered a hard material made from pure bamboo and “against a lot of opposition that this was a waste of my time, I pursued it.” Her product is completely chemical free – even the dyes are vegetable based. She’s ready to introduce a brand new material into the kids market (and eventually pet bowls, hospital trays, school plates, etc) a hard, durable “plastic” like material that is dishwasher-safe but biodegradable. “I really want to get rid of all melamine in the world – hospital trays, cafeteria trays … melamine is a terrible plastic for us and for the earth, but I need help. My Dad died from an environmental cancer (processed meats) and this project means the world to me.”
Go look in your kitchen cabinet now and look for products containing melamine. How to tell? Most of them outright will say “melamine” at the bottom of the product.
Now what:
Pre-order these dishes and cups via Dylan’s kickstarter here! Rewards are the products themselves, let’s help this lovely lady get her business off the ground while clearing toxins from our families food.
Learn more:
While you’re waiting for these to be delivered:
Other safe options include:
BONUS NOTE: We really trust any products sold by Sprout San Francisco, so consider their recommendations as good as gold.
