People should stop using melamine tableware when they heat up food, the Consumer Council warned yesterday.
Melamine tableware looks like porcelain but is made of plastic. There was a higher risk that harmful chemical substances could be released from the materials if they were heated in microwaves or ovens, experts said.
Melamine is an industrial chemical that was added to dairy products made on the mainland to artificially boost protein levels. The chemical damages kidneys and was blamed for making nearly 300,000 infants ill, killing at least six.
In its testing, the Consumer Council collected 300 tableware items made from melamine - including bowls, dishes and cups. Less than 5 per cent carried labels advising users against using the products in microwaves.
As a precaution, people should avoid putting acidic or hot food on the plates for a long period of time, the council recommended.
They should also avoid scratching the surface of the items, or using abrasive brushes to clean them.