Food safe or non-food safe?

[John Torchick]

When selling at a show, how do you differentiate between food safe and non-food safe items? My concern is a customer buying a bowl and using it for snacks, etc. when it has a certain finish. TIA.

 

[William Rogers]

Since there are so many finishes that fully cured are food safe, I only use food safe finishes for my bowls. I don’t think there is a good way to inform the customer that the bowl is only to be used for non food items.

 

[Dave Landers]

IMO If it can be used for food or put in the mouth (i.e. it's a bowl, platter, cup, spoon, baby rattle, toy, etc) it should have a food safe finish (or no interior finish). Should also be made from safe material (i.e. wood with low allergy/reaction issues).
Art or display pieces, hollow forms, etc can be from other materials and have other finishes.
Boxes might be in some middle-ground if you think someone might be storing spices, or their "stash", or whatever...

 

[John Torchick]

Thanks. You guys confirmed by suspicions. Food safe finishes all the way.

 

[robo hippy]

If I can eat it straight out of the can/bottle, then I consider it "food safe". If not, I don't put it on my bowls. "Supposedly" finishes with chemical "driers" are "food safe" after being fully cured. I ran into some one at a show once who was sensitive to those driers and she said that she still reacts to them. I go with the walnut oils. They will cure and harden which mineral oil never does.

robo hippy

 

[John Torchick]

Reed, many people are allergic to many things. If we were to follow that idea that one person is allergic or reacts to a certain finish, then there are no finishes that are safe.