Is BLO food safe?

T

the possum

Joined
Jul 31, 2002
Messages
2,954
I'm too lazy to search for this on my phone. Is boiled linseed oil food safe, after it's dry, of course? What about other similar finishes like tung or teak oil? I have a few wood scraps I was thinking about turning into kitchen utensils.
 
Use mineral oil and bees wax
Gently heat 4 parts mineral oil to 1 part bees wax, it will cool to a paste
 
droppoint1 said:
Mineral oil is a petroleum distillate, or liquid byproduct made by refining crude oil to gasoline and other petroleum products.

It is considered by the World Health Organization to be classified as:
Mineral oils that are untreated or mildly treated are classified as group 1 carcinogens (cancer causing) to humans.

Highly refined mineral oils are classified as Group 3, meaning they are not suspected to be carcinogenic but available information is not sufficient to classify them as harmless.

The FDA considers mineral oil to be food grade safe and for human consumption since it is a highly refined oil.

Glyphosate / round up is supposedly wonderful for people also.

Sounds legit.
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You gotta use food safe mineral oil which is sold at the pharmacy for digestive purposes.
 
Old Axeman said:
Walnut Oil and Beeswax blend is very good and safe if you don't have a nut allergy.
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I have considered this as it is one of the few other drying oils. But every time, I decide that if I want to be clean and safe that raw linseed oil it easier to find and cheaper.

As it is, I find full cans of BLO often enough at yard sales that I have a lifetime supply and then some. I give it away to my friends. I can't drink the stuff, and I wear latex gloves when treating handles. Since I am treating tool handles and not wooden spoons, I am happy with it.

As for food grade mineral oil, although I don't worry about it, I also won't argue for consuming it if it makes a person nervous. But I certainly would not worry about it on a tool handle.
 
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droppoint1 said:
There are people that notice negative physical reactions from handling tool handles with dried boiled linseed oil on them. So it may be possible that the chemicals are being absorbed through the skin even when dry. There are other examples of chemicals that do this.

Why support companies making toxic chemicals that don't care about your health when there is a better way to do it which would also be food safe?

As for food grade mineral oil on food surfaces, I don't worry about a beeswax mineral oil treatment either on butcher block or wood bowls. It is in small quantities, and limited contact. If I found scientific info proving it was bad even in small amounts that would change. At least be aware of where it comes from.
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Honestly because I haven't heard of any such cases and I have no adverse reaction personally. Obviously I would recommend anyone that notices an adverse reaction to avoid these products.
 
droppoint1 said:
If anyone is interested in the simple process of how to wash organic flaxseed oil to make it faster drying, better penetrating, non toxic, mold resistant, and wont go rancid, I can post it up in a separate thread.
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I'm interested.
 
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