This complete guide to dinnerware safety highlights potential toxins associated with dinnerware production and identifies safer alternatives.
When choosing dinnerware, safety is just as important as style. The options can be overwhelming, from concerns about toxic materials to questions about microwave and dishwasher safety.
In this article, we cut through the confusion surrounding dinnerware safety and identify the safe dinnerware options for your home or business.
Dinnerware is a complex set of plates, cups, bowls, glasses, and other dishes used for serving food (dinner). The cost and design of dinnerware are primarily dictated by the material choice.
Low-cost dinnerware is made from plastic or sheet metal. In contrast, high-end dinner sets are made from glass, fine china, and other premium materials. Each material type has several sub-types that change different dinnerware properties.
Simple ceramic dinnerware is safe, beautiful, and elegant, but it is brittle and shatters easily. Stoneware is a higher-quality ceramic dinnerware produced at high temperatures (2,100 - 2,370°F). It is more durable and more expensive than traditional ceramic.
Here is a list of the most popular modern dinnerware materials.
a. Ceramic Dinnerware - Made from clay, water, and minerals baked in a kiln.
b. Porcelain Dinnerware - Made from kaolin (white clay) & petunse rock baked in a kiln.
c. Glass Dinnerware - Made by melting a mixture of soda ash, limestone, and sand.
d. Wood Dinnerware - Made from carving and processing wood and plant fibers.
e. Metal Dinnerware - Made by stamping shapes out of sheet metal.
f. Plastic Dinnerware - Made by injecting molten plastic into metal molds.
Table 1 - Comparing the different variations of dinnerware materials.
Dinnerware is generally not regulated by any private or governmental body. There is no ingredient list that can help you identify toxic chemicals on your dinner plates.
The only way to test for toxic substances is by chemical analysis, which is impractical for the average home user.
Here is a short list of the most common toxic chemicals present in dinnerware.
Lead is one of the most toxic substances for a healthy human body. Eating from a lead-contaminated dinner plate can lead to blood pressure issues, joint weakness, and organ failure.
Lead was a popular paint ingredient until the 1970s when it was banned. Antique dinnerware with decorative paint finishes may contain trace amounts of lead, especially if it was made before 1970.
Similar to lead, cadmium is a dangerous element that can cause a variety of health issues. Long-term exposure to cadmium can cause heart issues, breathing problems, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Crushed cadmium powder was commonly used in ceramic dinnerware and was a popular dye ingredient in red, yellow, and orange tableware. Avoid antique chinaware, especially if it has one of the aforementioned colors.
BPA is a common element in polycarbonate plastics. It's used in everything from Baby bottles to eyeglasses. Research has shown that exposure to BPA can disrupt the body's hormones.
However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled BPA safe for food packaging. Experts argue that heating up BPA plastics in microwaves can cause the toxic chemical to become airborne, but the research is still not definitive.
With growing concerns regarding plastic use, restaurants should probably avoid using BPA plastic dinnerware.
PFAS is a broad term used to describe various fluorine-heavy chemicals. A recent study shows that well over 7 million different PFAS are used in modern manufacturing. You can find PFAS in the non-stick coating on frying pans, beauty products, and disposable plastic plates.
Investigations have shown that several large corporations knew about PFAS and their risk to human health but chose to hide this information in favor of profits. PFAS don't degrade naturally, so they stay in the environment for a long time. In fact, almost every person in the United States has trace amounts of PFAS in their body.
PFAS raises cholesterol levels, causes birth defects in children, and even results in cancer.
Melamine is a common chemical used in various industries. It's commonly used to produce utensils, plates, and other plastic products. Ingesting melamine can cause serious kidney damage.
Since food is often served on melamine plates, you will be fine if you don't chip the plate and consume it. At least, that is the legal reason why governments have not banned melamine.
In reality, certain acidic foods and high temperatures can cause melamine to migrate into food. Hence, the FDA states that melamine plates are not oven-safe.
Reusable alternatives to melamine plates, such as metal and ceramic, are too expensive for small restaurants. Therefore, it's better for the food service industry to switch to single-use paper or bamboo plates, which are much safer and more affordable.
While some dinnerware options contain toxic chemicals, that is not true for most options. In recent years, many materials have been hailed as being completely safe for home and restaurant use. But is that the case?
In this section, we assess the safety of dinnerware that is considered the safest.
Yes, ceramic dinnerware is one of the safest dinnerware options. It's made from natural clay and has been used for thousands of years. To top it all off, modern ceramic dinner plates and cups are incredibly affordable.
The only drawback of ceramic dinner sets is the glaze or finish. Some glazes use lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals. As long as you source your dinnerware from a reputable manufacturer, there will be no issues.
Ceramic dinnerware is also heat resistant. It prevents heat from entering or escaping the dish, keeping foods hot for longer. Ceramic cups are an excellent example of heat insulation. The material keeps your coffee warm without burning your hands.
Most mid to large restaurants can justify the cost of adopting ceramic tableware. It's a premium material that adds to the dining experience. However, there is no disposable option for ceramic dinnerware, meaning takeout and food delivery will still need to rely on plastic containers.
Pros
Environment Friendly
Non-Corrosive
Heat Resistant
Excellent Aesthetic Appeal
Cons
Older Ceramics may contain Lead
Brittle and Easy to Break
Higher Cost than Melamine
Yes, glass dinnerware is completely safe to use. Clear glass is a non-reactive, noncorrosive material that doesn't use chemicals or dyes. It's a premium material that is infinitely recyclable.
Pigments are often used to add colors to glass. Most pigments use metal oxides, like lead, which are toxic. The solution is to either source your glass dinnerware from a trusted supplier or simply use clear, colorless glass at your restaurant.
Businesses looking to adopt glass dinnerware face a few drawbacks. You can only make drink glasses, cups, and plates out of this material. Even glass cups are not ideal, as glass is a good conductor of heat. So, pouring coffee into a glass cup will quickly raise the outside temperature, making it too hot to touch.
Glass is also much more brittle than ceramic. Ceramic plates will chip away at sudden hits, but glass will shatter into dangerous blades.
Finally, only some glass dishes are microwave-safe and the rest can shatter on heating. Additionally, glass gets very hot after microwaving, leading to unfortunate accidents.
Pros
Environment Friendly
Non-Corrosive
Non-Toxic
Infinitely Recyclable
Aesthetically Beautiful
Cons
Very Easy to Break
Absorbs Heat
Limited Applications
Yes, stainless steel is an incredibly safe material for dinnerware. It doesn't rust, corrode, or shatter, making it ideal for daily restaurant use.
Metal is a tried-and-tested material for dinnerware. Its strength is particularly useful for cutlery. Spoons, knives, and forks need rigidity so they don't bulk under the weight of the food.
Stainless steel's only real drawback is its visual appeal. Steel doesn't look great on its own, and stainless steel plates and trays are generally associated with school and hospital cafeterias.
Even in a bar, metal drink glasses are associated with bartenders, who use them as shakers rather than guests.
Unfortunately, the perception of metal cutlery is not the same as it was in ancient times. People generally prefer ceramic or glass for their premium feel.
Pros
Non-Corrosive
Environment Friendly
Durable & Shatter-proof
Non-Reactive
Long Lasting
Cons
Relatively Expensive
Visually Unappealing
Yes, natural wooden dinnerware is completely safe for humans and the environment. It contains no harmful artificial substances that could contaminate the food.
Wood is a porous material, so wooden utensils often use a sealant to make them water-resistant. Luckily, there are lots of food-safe wood finishes, such as beeswax, mineral oil, walnut oil, etc.
So far, wood is the only material on this list usable for disposable and reusable dinnerware. Premium hardwoods like maple and cherry are ideal for reusable dinnerware. In contrast, pine, birch, and bamboo can be used for single-use tableware.
Wood is a natural resource, so it's completely biodegradable and compostable. It is stronger than disposable paper and plastic dinnerware at roughly the same cost.
Unlike stainless steel, wood is considered a more premium material in our metal and plastic-dominated society. So, wooden plates, spoons, and cups strike a good balance between natural and luxurious.
Pros
Environment Friendly
Natural & Non-Toxic
Renewable, Biodegradable & Compostable
Durable & Long Lasting
Aesthetically Beautiful
Cons
Risk of Deforestation
Lower Quality Wooden Dinnerware uses Synthetic Binders
Our last food-safe dinnerware option is a collection of plant-based dinnerware that is popular in the food service industry. Wheat straw, palm leaves, bagasse, bamboo, and other fibrous plants are low-cost, sustainable materials ideal for small restaurants and food carts.
Plant-based dinnerware is lightweight and easy to carry. Unlike glass and ceramic, it is not at risk of breaking. Its lower cost makes it more affordable than reusable stainless steel dinnerware. It is also several times stronger than disposable paper or plastic dinnerware.
If you've ever stuck a plastic fork into fried chicken only for the fork to break, you're not alone. Plastic cutlery is so affordable because it's thin and weak. Plant-based cutlery is not only stronger but also non-toxic.
Another big problem with other natural and safe dinnerware materials is their incompatibility with the food service industry. The industry often relies on single-use plastic containers and cutlery for takeout.
Even if your business switches to ceramic or glass dinnerware, your takeout will still have a plastic container. Plant-based disposable dinnerware is an ideal companion for your ceramic, glass, and metal dinnerware. Use expensive reusable dinnerware for your dine-in guests and bamboo dinnerware for food trucks and takeouts.
Pros
Environment Friendly
Natural & Non-Toxic
Renewable, Biodegradable & Compostable
Lightweight & Low-Cost
Stronger than Other Disposable Dinnerware
Versatile Applications
Cons
Slightly Higher Cost than Disposable Plastic
Limited Suppliers of Quality Dinnerware
There are too many options when it comes to safe and natural dinnerware. Here is a quick checklist to help you narrow down your choices.
First, identify the material you would like for your business. Ceramics, glass, wood, and metal are ideal for restaurants and hotels. The options for food carts and takeouts are much more limited. You can only really choose from plastic, paper, or wood.
Naturally, we recommend businesses avoid plastic, as it's harmful to customers and the environment. Paper is a good option if you can work around its durability issue.
Heat resistance is another important factor. Materials like glass and metal are good conductors of heat. So when you put hot food into glass or metal dinnerware, the outside immediately gets hot. By the time your glass plate cools down, so will your food.
Ceramics and wood have much higher heat resistance, making them ideal for hot and cold foods. With the exception of some glass dinnerware, all of the above-mentioned materials are also freezer-safe.
Some materials are more versatile than others. For example, you can get a complete dinnerware set made of stainless steel. Everything from drinking glasses to plates and even straws can be made from metal.
However, you cannot do the same for glass or ceramic. While ceramic spoons, forks, and knives are possible, they are heavy and risk shattering.
Any food business will occasionally need to heat food in a microwave. Stainless steel is, of course, not microwave-safe. Only certain types of glass are microwave-safe, and they typically cost a little more.
All natural and food-safe dinnerware materials are dishwasher-safe. However, there are two major caveats here.
Some natural ceramics don't have a chemical glaze, which makes them safe but also porous. Dishwashers can ruin your otherwise excellent ceramic dinner set.
Wooden dinnerware faces a similar issue, the high heat of a dishwasher can damage the wood finish.
Finally, there is the price question. Switching to a safe and healthy dinnerware set means an initial investment cost, which is much higher for ceramics and glass than for wood or steel.
You also have to consider replacement costs. Ceramics and glass will break over time, and you will need to buy matching replacements.
Learn how biodegradable disposable tableware helps businesses save costs.
Most dinnerware is not as safe as we would like to think. While toxic metals like lead and cadmium are rarely found in modern cutlery, plastic-based toxins are much more common.
BPA, phthalates, and melamine are not immediately dangerous, but long exposure to these substances can lead to serious health issues. Plastic dinnerware can generally be avoided in the restaurant and hotel industry. However, street food and takeout still heavily rely on low-cost, single-use plastic tableware. Wooden dinnerware seems like the safest option for everyone, provided the wood is ethically sourced and tree plantation is encouraged.
Ancheng is one of the biggest producers of safe and eco-friendly tableware. We have been making high-quality wooden and bamboo dinnerware for over twenty years. Our raw materials are ethically sourced, and we employ sustainable business practices to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum.
Using our OEM service, you can get fully customized cutlery and tableware. We also offer several pre-sale services to businesses, such as free samples, packaging advice, and pertinent product testing.
Get the best and safest dinnerware from Ancheng! Contact Us Now!
Hello, I'm Sven Wang, the Manager of Ancheng. With extensive expertise in raw materials and production processes, I'm dedicated to advancing sustainable tableware and constantly improving eco-friendly options for the modern catering industry. You can trust that Ancheng is committed to providing the highest quality. Welcome!
Factory: Qian Renqiao Industrial Pack, Shucheng County, Luan City, Anhui Province, China
Office: Building 11, Max Science Park, Shushan Dist, Hefei, Anhui, China
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