Steatite is a metamorphic rock composed mainly of minerals talc, dolomite and amphibolites. It is abundantly found in the Southeast of Brazil especially in the state of Minas Gerais. In addition to its industrial use, it has also been used for manufacture of sculptures and cooking utensils, called "soapstone cookware". The tradition of food preparation using soapstone cookware is alive among in habitants of Ouro Preto (MG, Brazil), where 80% of the native population has this utensil and 63% of them use it in food preparation. The common knowledge shows that it can be used to treat and prevent iron anemia. Although steatite was found to be one of the first materials used by man in the manufacture of cooking utensils, the scientific knowledge of its interaction with food is limited. Due to lack of data, tests were made with food simulants in order to predict its behavior in domestic use, as cookware and food container, in which was observe the migration of metals such as iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium and nickel. However, the metals migration of during the shelf life of the cookware continues unknown. More studies about nutritional implication of soapstone cookware still necessary. The scientific information about the behavior of this material is limited. The aim of this paper was to provide to the scientific community the recent review of the information about steatite composition and its influence in food contact and human health.
dolomite; migration; food utensils; toxicology; nickel
