Is bamboo tableware dangerous to our health?

In a spoon, fork, plate or even in a “lunch-box”, we now find bamboo in all forms. In an ecological solution approach, it stands out as the perfect alternative to plastic. But is it safe for health? A recent study by the French magazine 60 million consumers shows us that bamboo tableware is not as harmless as you think …

A transformation dangerous to health

Bamboo is not used pure, as can be wood. To create dishes, it must be agglomerated. This requires a binder, usually melamine. Normally harmless, if it is of poor quality, it can become toxic to our kidneys. Another disadvantage, once exposed to heat, this substance is also capable of transferring carcinogenic components in our food. And, the more the dishes are used with hot products, the more the amount of harmful elements increases! In mid-November, the German Federal Institute for Toxic Risk Assessment (BfR) had already pointed out the potential dangerousness of bamboo mugs, cups and other containers in a study. She emphasized that it should not be used for hot drinks or for hot meals, especially in children. It is better to favor containers made of glass, stainless steel, porcelain or even polypropylene, and use bamboo containers only for cold food.

“While wood can be a single material, for example cut into the shape of a spoon or salad bowl, bamboo is used in the form of fibers or powder, therefore needing to be agglomerated to reach a fork, a spoon or a plate “, explains Anne Lafourcade, environmental health engineer, to the magazine 60 million consumers.