Tag: Food grade mineral oil

The safety of mineral oil is entirely dependent on its level of refinement, with industrial-grade varieties containing carcinogenic compounds that are removed during processing for consumer products. The widespread belief that all mineral oil is harmful often stems from a misunderstanding of this critical difference, causing unnecessary alarm over a staple ingredient in cosmetics and medicine.

According to Poison Control, ingestion of baby oil is minimally toxic but can have serious, even life-threatening, complications, particularly if it is aspirated into the lungs. This fact is critical for anyone wondering, "Can baby oil be edible?", as the answer is a definitive no. The seemingly harmless product contains ingredients not meant for consumption and can pose significant health risks if swallowed.

Food grade mineral oil is a highly refined petroleum-derived product, purified so extensively that it is non-carcinogenic and chemically inert, making it safe for direct or indirect food contact. This high level of purification is the primary factor in determining what is considered food grade mineral oil, distinguishing it from industrial variants.

Despite common confusion, liquid paraffin and food grade mineral oil are not always the same, with the key difference being the level of refinement. While liquid paraffin is a general term for a highly refined petroleum product, only the specific food-grade mineral oil is deemed safe for consumption or incidental food contact.

According to the FDA, highly refined food-grade mineral oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for specific applications in food production. This means that while industrial mineral oil is toxic, the specialized food-grade variant *is mineral oil allowed in food* for controlled purposes, as long as it meets rigorous purity standards.