Is Epoxy Resin Food Safe?
Epoxy resin has become a widely used material because of its effective adhesive, coating, and repairing properties.
It is also very effective for artists to use on certain projects. Arts and crafts lovers worldwide use it to finish their art pieces.
The kitchen is no exception. Epoxy resin is a powerful glue and glaze, so it can be effectively used with craft products including wood, plastic, fiberglass, ceramic, and even metal. Once you cure and dry it, it becomes crystal clear and hard. It looks fantastic, protects your product, and it’s easy to clean.
Coating wooden tables, chairs, chopping boards, coasters, and countertops with epoxy is undoubtedly very trendy these days. If you are creative, there are so many projects where epoxy resin comes into its own. You should have some in your art supplies box!
So, what if you’re making something that is going to come into contact with food?
Is Epoxy Resin Food Safe?
Properly cured epoxy resin with FDA approval is safe for use on products that will come into contact with food and drink.
Any surfaces that come into contact with your food should be carefully considered. After all, epoxy is plastic. It can be bad for the environment and health. Not all epoxies are safe to use. Those used as adhesives on cars, wooden boats, all types of DIY arts and crafts are not suitable for food use.
There are FDA-approved epoxy resins that are suitable for food if they are used correctly.
The FDA cannot certify all epoxy as food-safe. It all depends on the way you mix, pour and cure it. Properly cured epoxy resin is safe, tough.
The epoxy resin product must comply with the Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations: The FDA performs some checks on whether the resin is safe.
To approve for safety, FDA requires that the material does not impart any taste or smell to the food.
There must not be any amounts of non-crosslinked components released into the food. Also, the food’s composition cannot be changed by contact with the product (for example, reacting with the resin).
Used correctly, FDA-approved epoxy resins do not present any risk to human health.
If you plan to use epoxy to finish your painting or crafty creation, or to glaze your kitchen table or countertop with a new, glossy, or creative look, consider the chemical makeup. The epoxy resin consists of different chemicals that bond together and solidify after curing. Since there are many kinds of epoxy resin in the market, you should always check if the material is FDA-approved.
The basic criteria are that epoxy resin has a low amount of BPA (Bisphenol A), Bisphenol F (BPF), and little or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
To be completely safe, note that your epoxy should come in two bottles, one of resin and one of hardener. You will need a one-to-one ratio of resin to hardener. Remember, your measurements must be on point. Otherwise, your epoxy is at risk of not curing entirely.
As long as you buy food-grade epoxy and cure it properly, it will be safe to use on surfaces that come in touch with food. If you are looking to buy the material, you will have to do some research. The positive thing is that most of the brands are safe after curing.
A safe resin for your products:
This affordable epoxy resin comes in two bottles and includes all you need to get started.
Epoxy Resin Products For Food
Since epoxy is a highly versatile material, you can create beautiful tumblers, cutting boards, countertops, dining tables, glasses, fruit bowls, serving plates… You name it. Resin is an ideal option for restoring old and outdated kitchen and bathroom countertops. You can even use it in some types of flooring. It is durable, heat resistant, and long-lasting. It has that high gloss sheen that will last years, and its design options are infinite.
Is Epoxy Resin Safe to Use Indoors?
Epoxy resin is safe to use indoors but only if you take some simple precautions and buy the correct resin in the first place.
So, if you have decided to tackle a DIY epoxy resin project, but want to do so indoors, don’t worry. You can use it indoors too, but you will still have to take some measures to protect you and your family’s health.
The video below is a brilliant resource for staying safe while finishing your craft project. It is referring to tumbler makers, but the same applies for anything that comes into contact with food and drink.
There are several precautions you must take. Besides using FDA-approved resin, those include wearing gloves, a safety apron, and glasses.
Also, make sure that you properly ventilate the space. Opening windows is usually all that is needed. If you’re using a lot of resin or working on a large product you may use a respirator and goggles. This is overkill for simple DIY projects, but check the instructions on your resin which can tell you exactly what precautions you need to take.
Early epoxy materials gave off many fumes, and the protective precautions at the time were not that good as nowadays. Today most epoxy products are generally safe to use indoors. When choosing suitable gloves, experienced users recommend getting a box of nitrile gloves for your epoxy projects.
Nitrile is a chemically inert material that will not react with epoxy. You should avoid latex at all costs as this will react. More importantly, latex can prevent the proper curing of the product. If you happen to get epoxy on your skin, wash it quickly and thoroughly.
Is Epoxy Resin Toxic to Breathe?
Properly cured epoxy resin is not toxic to breathe, but it’s still wise to pay attention to ventilation. Check the instructions on the resin you buy. Also, if you can, use an outdoor space.
To prevent overwhelming fumes:
- Open all of the windows.
- If you have a ceiling fan, turn it on.
- Avoid the use of air-conditioning because the smell of the material might get stuck in the system.
Can Epoxy Resin Kill You?
It is extremely unlikely that resin will cause you any health problems if you take the right precautions and buy a non-toxic resin.
The risk is that the molecules could get into your lungs and cause some irritation. If you are not sure that resin is non-toxic, never let it near your eyes or mouth.
By their nature, epoxy resins and hardeners contain chemicals capable of causing severe health problems and even death.
It’s a bit like using bleach or cleaning products you come across daily. They’re potentially dangerous but only if they are used incorrectly. If you swallow it, there could be serious health implications, but it is easy enough to avoid this sort of issue. Fumes are not likely to kill you, but they could give you a fume high.
Conclusion
We’re not medical professionals, but if you take a few simple precautions it is very unlikely that you will experience any safety issues with your epoxy resin.
Epoxy resin is safe for food contact just so long as it is properly cured. Make sure you take the precautions mentioned above and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
