EFSA Flags Melamine for Possible Reassessment, Highlighting New Options for Heat-Resistant Polyester Tableware

The development has drawn attention to the safety of food contact materials, the conditions under which melamine tableware should be used, and the development of alternative materials. For manufacturers of tableware and food packaging, material selection involves more than heat resistance and processing performance; it also requires consideration of intended use, chemical migration and applicable market regulations.

EFSA Identifies Melamine for Possible Reassessment

In September 2026, EFSA published a technical report screening substances on the EU Union List of authorized substances for plastic food contact materials against the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs).

Of the 898 substances reviewed, 23 also appeared on the SVHC Candidate List. Following an initial screening, EFSA assessed seven substances in greater detail. For six of them, the available evidence did not raise new concerns that challenged their previous safety assessments or existing restrictions. Melamine was the only substance identified as potentially requiring reassessment.

EFSA noted that additional animal studies had reported effects related to male reproductive health at doses below the reference point used in its 2010 assessment. Although the studies had limitations and uncertainties, the findings could support a review of melamine’s tolerable daily intake (TDI) and potentially influence its specific migration limit in the future.

EFSA’s 2010 assessment established a TDI of 0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. The EU subsequently established a specific migration limit of 2.5 mg/kg of food for melamine in plastic food contact materials.

Importantly, identifying melamine for possible reassessment does not mean that it has been banned or that all currently authorized uses have been determined to pose a risk to human health. Any changes to existing safety assessments or regulatory requirements would depend on further scientific evaluation and subsequent regulatory action.

Melamine Tableware: Applications and Use Limitations

Melamine tableware is generally made from melamine-formaldehyde resin and is commonly used for bowls, plates, trays and other food-service items. Typical applications include households, restaurants, cafeterias and institutional catering.

The material offers rigidity and durability for serving and eating under appropriate conditions. However, **melamine tableware should not be used to heat food in a microwave oven**. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that, under certain conditions, particularly when acidic foods are heated, melamine migration into food may increase. Food should be heated in cookware specifically identified as microwave-safe.

This limitation highlights the importance of evaluating tableware materials according to their actual conditions of use. Heat resistance, mechanical performance and durability alone are not sufficient to establish suitability for microwave heating, high-temperature cleaning or other demanding applications.

Heat-Resistant Polyester SH-200: An Alternative Material Option for Tableware

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a thermoplastic polyester widely used in food and beverage packaging. Conventional bottle-grade PET resin is primarily designed for bottle applications, while tableware requires material properties suited to heat exposure, mechanical demands and injection molding.

To address these application requirements, Wankai Research Institute has developed SH-200 heat-resistant polyester for tableware. According to Wankai New Materials'product information, SH-200 is designed for reusable and heat-resistant tableware applications, with the aim of addressing the limitations of conventional PET in heat-resistant uses.

The material is intended for applications that may include microwave heating, high-temperature cleaning and disinfection, such as dishwasher use, and the serving of hot or cold foods. Its suitability for these applications should be established through testing of the finished articles under the relevant conditions of use.

SH-200 can be processed using cold-mold and hot-mold injection molding. According to the product information, cold-mold injection molding offers the potential for shorter molding cycles and lower energy consumption, while hot-mold injection molding focuses on improved heat resistance and surface gloss.

Compared with conventional bottle-grade PET, SH-200 is specifically positioned around the thermal performance and processing requirements of tableware. Actual suitability for microwave heating, dishwasher cleaning or other temperature-dependent applications must nevertheless be evaluated against finished-product design, test results and use instructions.

SH-200: Key Performance Parameters

According to product information provided by Wankai New Materials, selected typical properties of SH-200 are listed below.

These are typical values stated in the product information. Actual performance may vary depending on processing conditions, finished-product design and test conditions. Heat deflection temperature is a material property and should not be interpreted as the maximum safe operating temperature of a finished article under all conditions.

For food contact applications, compliance must also be evaluated against the intended use of the finished product and the applicable migration and regulatory requirements. Typical raw-material properties do not replace safety and compliance verification of the final article.

Could SH-200 Replace Melamine Tableware in Selected Applications?

SH-200 provides a polyester-based material option for heat-resistant tableware, distinct from conventional melamine-formaldehyde resin. Its potential value lies in its thermal performance, injection-molding options and suitability for application-specific product development.

However, heat-resistant polyester and melamine resin differ in material structure, processing methods and performance characteristics. They should not be regarded as universally interchangeable. Whether SH-200 is suitable as an alternative to a particular melamine tableware product depends on factors such as article design, intended temperatures, microwave heating conditions, dishwasher cleaning requirements and food contact migration test results.

For manufacturers developing reusable tableware, heat-resistant food containers or related products, specialized heat-resistant polyester may be worth evaluating as a material option. The final choice should be based on application testing, intended conditions of use and regulatory requirements in the target market.

Any statements in product materials concerning FDA, CE or the migration of hazardous substances should be supported by the relevant test reports and compliance documentation. Claims about raw-material properties alone should not be used to establish the compliance of finished tableware.

Looking Ahead: Food Contact Safety and Material Innovation

EFSA's identification of melamine for possible reassessment underscores the continuing evolution of scientific evaluation for food contact materials. Manufacturers and downstream users need to monitor regulatory developments and assess material performance and food contact safety in the context of actual product use.

At the same time, specialized heat-resistant polyesters offer additional options for the development of tableware and food containers. SH-200, developed by Wankai Research Institute, is designed for heat-resistant tableware applications and provides a material option for manufacturers evaluating new product designs.

As the food contact materials sector evolves, material selection will continue to depend on performance, processing efficiency, intended conditions of use and regulatory compliance. Whether heat-resistant polyester can replace melamine in specific tableware applications must ultimately be established through application testing and appropriate compliance verification.