Real Milk Paint Cutting Board Oil

Keep your wood cutting boards in excellent shape and ready for use with Cutting Board Oil by the Real Milk Paint Co. We created Cutting Board Oil after analyzing numerous products currently on the market and realizing that the majority contained mineral oil, which is a substance derived from the processing of crude oil (petroleum distillate/petro-chemical). With that in mind, our Cutting Board Oil offers superior quality for food contact and food preparation surfaces thanks to a 100% plant-based formulation that conditions, seals, and protects your favorite wooden cutting board, wooden bowls, utensils, and charcuterie boards.
We believe in transparency in our products and what is used to make them. So, here is a list of what is used to make our Cutting Board Oil.

Why We Didn’t Use Mineral Oil

There are many resources that promote and brands that use mineral oil as a sealant on cutting boards. After researching heavily into food-grade mineral oil, we decided to not use it in our cutting board oil. This section explains why.

Mineral oil is a product produced during the refining process of crude petroleum. As it is refined, different levels of mineral oil and other petrochemicals are filtered off. These levels of mineral oil fall under different grades and have various classifications. Crude petroleum is turned into things like gasoline, mineral spirits, and mineral oil. Untreated, or mildly treated mineral oils are classified as carcinogenic to humans (Source(link is external), Source(link is external)) whereas highly treated mineral oil, what is considered food grade is “not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which is a group under the World Health Organization (WHO) (Source(link is external)). This study was last conducted in 1984 (Source(link is external)) with its findings confirmed most recently in 2012 (Source(link is external)) With this in mind, we decided it would be better to not include a substance that changes in carcinogenicity depending on how it is refined. 

Oils become rancid over time when exposed to air, this process is known as oxidization. During the refinement process of food-grade mineral oil, vitamin E which is naturally found in mineral oil and aids resistance to oxidization, is removed. Thus, it is noted by the FDA that adding antioxidants such as vitamin E to help prevent oxidization (turning rancid) is allowed (Source(link is external)).

Food Grade (white) Mineral Oil is classified as suitable to be used as a direct additive to food (Source(link is external)) as well as indirect contact with food by the FDA (Source(link is external)).  Food grade mineral oil is used widely in the processing, packaging, and preserving of food (Source(link is external)). Therefore, it is widely present in our everyday lives from the products we use through contact or ingestion, meaning our exposure is more than what is taken intentionally. It is also used as a laxative when taken in higher doses by blocking the absorption of water in the intestines and if used for prolonged periods can reduce the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals for the human body. There is growing concern over the bioaccumulation of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) in the body (lymph nodes, liver, spleen) and the toxicological effects of mineral oils found in food packaging and food. (Source(link is external), Source(link is external), Source(link is external)) However, there are also conflicting opinions on which MOH are of concern and which are not.

In light of all this information and in an effort to provide an effective and affordable alternative to mineral oil, we decided to not use mineral oil in our Cutting Board Oil and instead choose to use plant-derived ingredients.

What We Did Use

The unique properties and characteristics of each ingredient in Cutting Board Oil from the Real Milk Paint Co. make it the best cutting board oil for food contact and food preparation surfaces. The advantages conveyed by these vegan-friendly ingredients include:

• Grapefruit Seed Oil: This powerful essential oil boosts the anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties of our Cutting Board Oil. It is rich in antioxidants, furthering the overall shelf stability and resistance to going rancid (Source(link is external)) (Source(link is external)) (Source(link is external)). Our grapefruit seed oil is cold pressed, refined, and generally recognized as safe for direct human consumption by the FDA (Source(link is external)).
• Palm-Fruit Oil: Not to be mistaken with “palm kernel oil”, this oil is extracted from the fleshy part of the fruit of palm trees. Palm-fruit oil has potent antifungal properties that help you better maintain your wooden cutting board. It is also known to be rich in vitamin E, an essential antioxidant naturally aiding in rancid resistance (Source(link is external)). Palm oil is also FDA-approved for food contact (Source(link is external)). The Real Milk Paint Co. only uses palm fruit oil that carries RSPO Certification(link is external), otherwise known as Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, guaranteeing the sustainability and traceability of the palm fruit oil production throughout the supply chain. RSPO-IP (Identity Preserved) certification is one of four certification levels offered by the RSPO and carries the highest and strongest level of sustainable guarantee with traceability of each lot of palm fruit oil back to the field of origin. With Identify Preserved sustainable palm fruit oil, the entire batch of palm fruit oil is from a single identifiable certified source and kept separate from all non-certified batches.
• Refined Almond Oil: This all-natural nut oil offers a pleasant natural scent to the formulation while helping it soak into the surface of your wood cutting board, bowl, or utensils. This deeply penetrates for long-term moisture and conditioning. Refined Almond Oil is approved by the FDA for food contact as it is an edible oil. (Source(link is external)) Some may be rightfully concerned about almond oil as an allergen. While we are not medical professionals and recommend asking the advice of your doctor before use of our product it is worth noting that highly refined oil derived from almonds is exempted from being classified as a major food allergen because it lacks the proteins that typically trigger an allergic response. For more concerning this topic click here(link is external) and here(link is external).
• Rice Bran Wax: This ingredient in Cutting Board Oil comes from the husk or outer shell of individual rice kernels. It provides a light protective barrier against spills and moisture while also enhancing the sheen of the final finish. Rice Bran Wax is approved by the FDA to be used in contact and in food and can be commonly found in things like candy and chewing gum (Source(link is external)).
• Hemp Floral Wax: Suitable for use on leather, wood, skin, and more, hemp wax offers antimicrobial properties and delivers excellent protection against organic materials.