Replies

1. 
   _mj_ | Aug 10, 2024 09:14am | #1

   Everything is pretty much "food safe" once completely cured. You don't need to worry any more than you do about ingesting ink putting a printed paper cup to you lips or the micro chips from a plastic cutting board.

2. 
   lefried | Aug 10, 2024 10:18am | #2

   My understanding is that many oil-based finishes contain drying agents that are not food safe. Here is a link:

   https://waterlox.com/guide-japan-driers-or-accelerating-drying/

   I would not assume any finish to be food-safe unless it is specifically labeled that way. I recall FWW articles on food safe finishes.
   https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/finishing/food-safe-finish-considerations

3. 
   user-7274013 | Aug 10, 2024 01:10pm | #3

   Not sure about Osmo 3044 but the Osmo Top Oil is food safe

4. 
   rob_ss | Aug 11, 2024 02:37am | #4

   https://osmouk.com/downloads/polyx-oil-effect-raw-product-information.pdf

   Osmo is very expensive for this purpose and offers no benefit over simple oil. The quantity of any toxin would be negligible, but if you want total safety, go for plain oil. A few turners I know use rice bran oil for utensils - can't speak to it myself though plan a test piece.

5. 
   gulfstar | Aug 11, 2024 07:29am | #5

   I don’t see where Osmo Polyx is said to be food safe. To get FDA food safe labeling one has to certify his manufacturing process as well as the materials that goes into it.

6. 
   _JF1_ | Aug 11, 2024 09:54am | #6

   I use Howard’s butcher block conditioner. It lasts a while between applications. A little goes a long way. Anything you apply is going to eventually need to be reapplied so why risk using something that isn’t food safe.

7. 
   stantheman | Aug 11, 2024 10:02am | #7

   Just my opinion. If it's really going to be chopped on, it will get scarred and scratched quickly, such that maintaining a nice appearance is futile. A real cook will want the surface to yield so that their expensive knife edges dont dull quickly. So for me. it's basically about protecting from liquids so mineral oil + beeswax is what I use for cutting boards.
   Now many people make fancy cutting boards that are more for serving and appearance is more important.

1. 
   jac747 | Aug 12, 2024 01:22pm | #8

   Mineral oil/beeswax combo has been my cutting board finish for years. When the surface starts to look dry, slather more on, wipe off the excess. If you don't want to chase down beeswax, any drugstore will have mineral oil, which works fine by itself.