Is Wax Paper Edible? When To Take Precautions?

Wax paper is one of the common household packaging and is frequently used to store and wrap food items. This paper is coated with a thin layer of wax to make it moisture and tear-resistant. However, due to its frequent use in food packaging, many people ask “Is wax paper edible?” Whether by accident or by curiosity you might also have wondered if you can eat it or not and what will happen if you ingest it. To answer your queries, let’s read the blog. 

Is Wax Paper Edible?

Ths short answer to this question is no, wax paper is not edible. This paper is not designed for consumption, however, if you have mistakenly consumed it in small amounts it is unlikely to pose any health risks. Custom wax paper is coated with paraffin or soy-based wax, both are food-safe and nontoxic. But the paper itself is indigestible as it is made of cellulose fiber, a type of carbohydrate that cannot be digested by the human due to the absence of cellulose. So the answer to the other question “Is paper edible?” is also a big no! 

Accidentally eating small amounts is not hazardous, however, if you have ingested large amounts then you will have to face digestive issues and blockages. Especially custom printed wax paper is unsafe due to the inks or chemicals. Some brands use rice and potato starch to manufacture the paper that is edible but standard paper is not meant to be eaten.  Some of the reasons why you must avoid eating wax-coated paper are: 

• This paper is meant to be used for wrapping food 
• Your body cannot break down the fiber, which means that you will not get any nutrients
• The potential hazards of choking are high 
• Your body cannot break it down which may lead to digestive discomfort and intestinal blockage in extreme cases 

Possible Effects of Eating Wax Paper

What Happens If You Eat Wax Paper

As mentioned earlier, accidental ingestion of a small amount of wax paper is not damaging and you do not need to be worried about it. However, in case you have ingested it and are worried about it, you can follow the below-mentioned tips: 

• Drink some water and allow your body to process it naturally
• If you are experiencing severe stomach ache or bloating then seek medical advice
• If your child or pet has ingested it monitor them closely and if they show signs of distress, difficulty, or vomiting then contact a doctor or veterinarian 

What About The Wax Coating?

Mostly paraffin wax is used to coat the paper which is a petroleum-based product. However, some brands also use food-based wax such as beeswax and soy wax to coat their paper as an alternative to paraffin wax. All three waxes are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Regulatory Authority (FDA). So when asked “Is wax paper safe to eat” the answer is that intentional eating and eating in large amounts is not safe as you may have to bear undesirable digestive consequences. 

Is Wax Paper Toxic When Baked?

Wax paper is not meant for baking. This is because when you use high heat for wax paper, the wax-coated melts and sometimes ignites leading to hazardous conditions. If you are using paraffin wax-coated paper then it will emit volatile organic compounds that are highly toxic. Some of the dangers of baking wax-coated paper are as follows: 

• Melting wax can transfer to your food. Though wax is not highly toxic it is not suitable for consumption 
• Direct exposure to heat can burn the paper and it will emit smoke and potentially harmful chemicals 
• As the wax paper is not heat resistant fire hazards are also there 

So if you have accidentally used the paper for high heat exposure and the wax is melted then avoid eating the melted wax part and if the paper is burnt then discard the food and avoid ingesting burnt chemicals. For high heat applications always use parchment paper. 

Conclusion 

So can you eat wax paper? Obviously no! It is neither edible nor toxic which means if you have ingested it in a small amount then it will not pose any health risk. However, if you have ingested a large amount then the likelihood of severe gastrointestinal issues is quite high.  Apart from this, avoid using wax paper for baking or other high-heat applications as it is not safe. If you are looking for heat-safe paper or simply wax-coated paper then you can contact Wax Papers CA and get the best quality custom food wraps at the most affordable price.