Boiled Linseed Oil Safety: What You Need to Know for Food Contact

Understand boiled linseed oil and food safety

When it comes to finish wooden kitchenware, cutting boards, or other surfaces that may come into contact with food, the safety of the finish product become a critical consideration. Boiled linseed oil is a popular wood finish, but many people wonder whether it’s safe for food contact surfaces.

The short answer is: no, boil linseed oil is not food safe. Despite its name suggest a simple heating process, commercial boil linseed oil contain chemical dry agents and metallic compounds that make it inappropriate for food contact surfaces.

What’s boil linseed oil?

Contrary to what its name imply, boil linseed oil isn’t really boil in the traditional sense. It’s raw linseed oil (besides call flaxseed oil )that has been momodifiedith chemical additives call metallic driers or siccatives. These additives importantly speed up the dry process, make it more practical for woodwork applications.

The near common metallic compounds add to boil linseed oil include:

• Cobalt compounds
• Manganese compounds
• Zirconium compounds
• Lead compounds (in older formulations )

These metallic driers are toxic and not intend for ingestion, which is why boil linseed oil carry warnings against food contact on its packaging.

The confusion between boiled and raw linseed oil

Much of the confusion about linseed oil’s food safety stem from mix up two different products:

1. 
   Boiled linseed oil
   
   contain toxic dry agents, not food safe
2. 
   Raw linseed oil
   
   the pure, unmodified oil press from flax seeds

Raw linseed oil is basically the same as food grade flaxseed oil, which is so edible and use in cooking. Withal, raw linseed oil sell for woodworking may not be process to food grade standards, so it’s important to purchase specifically food grade flaxseed oil if ingestion is possible.

Why boiled linseed oil is not food safe

There be several reasons why boil linseed oil should ne’er be use on food contact surfaces:

Toxic chemical additives

The metallic driers in boil linseed oil can leach into food and potentially cause health problems if ingest regularly. These compounds aren’t mean for human consumption and can accumulate in the body over time.

Strong odor and taste

The chemical additives in boil linseed oil create a strong, unpleasant odor that can persist for weeks or even months. This odor can transfer to food, make it unpalatable.

Long curing time

Flush with dry agents, boil linseed oil can take weeks to amply cure. During this time, the uncured oil and its additives are specially prone to leach into food.

Rancidity concerns

Like all oils derive from plants, linseed oil can go rancid over time. The chemical additives in boil linseed oil don’t prevent this rancidity, which can affect food taste and potentially cause digestive issues.

Food safe alternatives to boiled linseed oil

If your look to finish wooden kitchenware or food contact surfaces, several food safe alternatives are available:

Pure food grade mineral oil

Mineral oil (specifically uUSPor food grade )is inert, doesn’t go rancid, and create a wawater-resistantarrier on wood. It’s wide coto considerhe safest option for wooden cutting boards and utensils.

Food grade beeswax

Ofttimes combine with mineral oil, beeswax create a more durable finish that help seal the wood against moisture. Many commercial cutting board oils and conditioners combine these two ingredients.

Source: woodworkersjournal.com

Walnut oil

This dry oil is food safe and finally polymerize to form a comparatively hard finish. Withal, it may cause allergic reactions in people with nut allergies.

Pure tung oil

100 % pure tung oil (not tung oil finish, which contain additives )is coconsideredood safe formerly full cure. It creates a morewater-resistantt finish than many other oils but require multiple thin coats and farseeing cure times.

Food grade shellac

Derive from the secretions of the lac bug, shellac is non-toxic and approve for food contact. It’s normally used as a coating for pills and candies.

Carnauba wax

Ofttimes use in food products, this plant derive wax can be combined with other food safe oils to create a durable,water-resistantt finish.

When’s linseed oil actually food safe?

The only form of linseed oil that’s food safe is pure, food grade flaxseed oil — the kind sell in health food stores for consumption. This oil is so edible and nutritious, contain omega 3 fatty acids and other beneficial compounds.

Nonetheless, there be important caveats to consider:

Source: thewoodmeter.com

• Food grade flaxseed oil is not suitable as a durable wood finish because it lacks dry agents
• It remains wet and sticky for an exceedingly long time
• It can go rancid comparatively speedily
• It doesn’t provide significant protection against moisture

For these reasons, flush food grade flaxseed oil isn’t recommended for finish wooden kitchenware, despite being technically edible.

Identify food safe finishes on commercial products

When purchase wooden kitchenware or consider a finish for food contact surfaces, look for products specifically label as food safe. In the United States, finish that comply with FDA regulation 21 CFR 175,300 are considered safe for food contact when right apply and cure.

Some manufacturers will explicitly will state that their products meet this standard. Others may plainly indicate that their finishes are” food safe ” r “” od grade. ”

Safety precautions when work with boiled linseed oil

If you do use boil linseed oil for non-food woodworking projects, keep these important safety precautions in mind:

Fire hazard

Rags soak in boil linseed oil can impromptu combust as the oil oxidize and generate heat. Invariably lie oil soak rags flat to dry or store them in a seal metal container fill with water before disposal.

Ventilation

Work in an advantageously ventilate area to avoid inhale fumes from the dry agents, which can cause respiratory irritation.

Skin protection

Wear gloves when apply boil linseed oil, as prolonged skin contact may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

Storage

Store boil linseed oil in its original container, tightly seal, and outside from heat sources, children, and pets.

Identify boiled linseed oil on exist items

If you’ve acquired a wooden item and are unsure whether it was finish with boil linseed oil, look for these characteristics:

• A yellowish tint that darken over time
• A distinctive linseed smell, peculiarly when warm
• A semi glossy finish that isn’t whole hard or plastic like

If you suspect an item has been finish with boil linseed oil, and you intend to use it for food, consider refinish it with a food safe alternative or reserve it for decorative purposes sole.

Refinish food contact surfaces

If you have wooden kitchenware that was antecedentlfinishedsh with boil linseed oil, you can refinish it to make it food safe:

1. Sand the surface exhaustively to remove arsenic much of the old finish as possible
2. Clean with mineral spirits to remove residual oil (allow to dry wholly )
3. Sand again with increasingly finer grits of sandpaper
4. Apply a food safe finish such as mineral oil or a mineral oil / beeswax blend

Keep in mind that it may be difficult to remove all traces of boil linseed oil that has penetrated profoundly into the wood. If you’re concerned about safety, it might be better to replace items preferably than attempt to refinish them.

Often ask questions about linseed oil and food safety

Is pure linseed oil food safe?

Pure, raw linseed oil that hasn’t been treat with dry agents is chemically the same as edible flaxseed oil. Notwithstanding, unless specifically label as food grade, raw linseed oil sell for woodworking may not be process to food safety standards.

How farseeing does boil linseed oil take to cure?

Boiled linseed oil typically feels dry to the touch within 24 48 hours but continue to cure for 30 days or longer. Full curing, which involve complete polymerization, can take several months depend on environmental conditions.

Can I make boiled linseed oil food safe?

No. once metallic driers and other chemicals have been added to create boil linseed oil, it can not be make food safe. These additives arintegratedte into the oil and can not removedove.

What’s the difference between Danish oil and boiled linseed oil?

Danish oil is typically a blend of oils (ofttimes include boil linseed oil )with varnish and thinners. Like boil linseed oil, most commercial daDanishil products are not food safe unless specifically label as such.

Conclusion: prioritize safety in wood finishing

When it comes to wooden items that will come into contact with food, it’s invariably best to will err on the side of caution. Boiled linseed oil, despite its popularity as a wood finish, is not appropriate for food contact surfaces due to its toxic additives.

Alternatively, opt for specifically designate food safe finishes like mineral oil, beeswax blends, or pure tung oil. These alternatives provide adequate protection for your wooden kitchenware without introduce potentially harmful substances to your food.

Remember that proper maintenance of wooden kitchenware, disregarding of the finish use, is essential for both food safety and the longevity of the items. Regular reapplication of food safe oils help prevent the wood from dry out, crack, and harbor bacteria.

By choose the right finishes and maintain your wooden items right, you can safely enjoy their beauty and functionality for years to come.