Can melamine from food containers cross the placenta and reach your unborn baby?

What's actually in it

Melamine is a chemical used to make hard, durable plastics found in plates, bowls, cups, and kitchen utensils. It's also in some countertops and adhesives. When you heat food in melamine dishes or use them for hot liquids, melamine can leach out and enter your body. During pregnancy, absorbed melamine can reach the placenta.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Sci Technol examined how melamine transfers from mother to fetus and its effects on the placenta. The researchers found that melamine crosses the placenta and can potentially disrupt the production of steroid hormones that the placenta makes to support pregnancy.

The placenta produces hormones like progesterone and estrogen that are essential for maintaining pregnancy and supporting fetal development. If melamine interferes with this process, it could contribute to pregnancy complications.

During pregnancy, avoid heating food in melamine dishes. Don't put hot foods or acidic foods like tomato sauce in melamine bowls. Use ceramic, glass, or stainless steel for hot food and beverages.