kidbean

Mineral oil is a generic term for any oil derived from a mineral source, such as petroleum, rather than from plants or animals. This transparent, odorless, colorless oil is a by-product of the distillation of gasoline from petroleum. Some highly-refined versions, such as Superla white oil, that are FDA-approved for food contact, are also used to finish wooden toys. When used to finish wood, mineral oil leaves a glossy, highly water-resistant coating, and its use for this application is widespread because it is cheap, easy-to-use (pieces may be dipped in the oil, as opposed to hand-rubbed) and readily-available.

Many wooden toy manufacturers, including North Star Toys, Mossy Creek Woodworks, and D and Me, typically use non-toxic mineral oil to finish their toys. We have chosen to carry only the unfinished versions of their toys because we have concerns about mineral oil's:

Environmental impact - Mineral oil is a derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, whose production contributes to global warming.

Safety - Babies and young children often put toys in their mouths and we feel they are safest when only exposed to natural materials. Petroleum jelly, which is essentially the solid form of mineral oil, has been labeled in the EU with risk R45 (may cause cancer) because the less-refined grades (yellow and brown in color) contain carcinogenic PAH's (polyaromatic hydrocarbons). Additionally, the less-refined grades of liquid mineral oil have been found to contain many carcinogenic substances, including PAH's, nitrosamines, and formaldehyde.

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