Hi,
A carver on our online list recently stated that walnut wood is highly toxic and not suitable for utencils or containers used in food contact. I advised that this is mostly an urban legend but another carver supplied the following:
“Walnut wood’s toxicity isn’t a myth. It’s just specific to
those who are allergic to it. Like horse’s. You can’t let walnut
sawdust get near them as it’ll kill them. It will also cause
some people to have an allergic reaction but it does tend to be
less violent than other nut woods.”
Who’s right here. I make high end cutting boards and sometimes use narrow stripes of walnut in them as contrast and would like to continue doing so. I’ve heard the horse story before, is there any truth to it also?
Thanks,
Larry Robertson
Replies
Walnut does contain a chemical that is toxic to humans, animals and plants.
Horses are especially affected by walnut and if they ingest some shavings with their hay they can be killed by it, the condition is called founders.
Most humans aren't nearly as sensitive to walnut, but some woodworkers do develop a sensitivity, rashes and breathing difficulties, to the dust that can become quite severe with repeated exposures. If you are sensitive you would need to protect yourself with excellent dust control, protective clothing, and thorough showering after exposure. To be honest, if you are sensitive to walnut, or any one of dozens of other woods that cause problems, you are probably better off to avoid using it.
Walnut used in cutting boards isn't a problem since only minute amounts of the wood, if any at all, ever get into the food. People like to blow up the possibility of a reaction to walnut in a cutting board way out of proportion, but I have never seen a credible story of anyone ever having a problem.
John White
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