Is Wax Paper Edible & Is It Safe To Eat?

Every kitchen is incomplete if the wax paper is not available in your kitchen cabinet. Wax paper is usually coated with food-grade paraffin wax that adds non-stick and moisture-resistant properties to it, which makes the cooking process simpler and faster. 

Wait! I raise a point here is; wax paper is food-safe coated. Many questions come to your mind; Is wax paper edible? Or Can you eat wax paper?

With the food-safe statement some people think; Oh yeah! Wax paper is edible. However, there is an important point to mention, while it is food-safe coated, wax paper is NOT edible. It is ideal only for cooking and food preparation but should not be consumed.

In this blog post, we will clear all of your concerns or questions related to wax paper edibility, and what happens if you eat wax paper, will you die? Moreover, we will also discuss if the wax paper is not edible, why we use it in cooking and baking tasks. So read till the end for a better understanding.

Is Wax Paper Edible & Can You Eat This?

In most cases, some parts of wax paper cling to the food and are accidentally eaten by people. This may confuse them at this stage; is wax paper edible or can I eat this?

Well, the short and straightforward answer to this question is; No, wax paper can’t be eaten. But why? See, wax paper is mainly designed to make the daily life kitchen process simple and easier.

Think about it; if the wax paper is safe to eat, then other types of food-safe paper, such as parchment paper, butcher paper, and aluminum foil, should also be consumed, which is of course not. Wax paper is intended for food handling and wrapping to make the process easier, but it should not be ingested.

Reasons Why The Wax Paper Is Not Edible?

Wax paper is edible for a variety of reasons. Here are the key points about why wax paper is not edible:

Paraffin Wax Coating

The layer of paraffin wax on the surface makes wax paper not edible. Paraffin is a petroleum-based coating which makes the paper non-stick and moist-resistant, ideal for cooking purposes, and not to be consumed.

Digestibility

Due to petroleum-based paraffin coating, wax paper is not meant to be ingested. Eating wax paper could lead to several health and stomach issues because the body can’t break it down.

Not A Food Ingredient

Wax paper is not made from food ingredients or even a food item. Because of these unmatched properties, it is considered a food-safe paper to wrap snacks or used as sandwich paper.

These are all the reasons, which make wax paper not edible and safe for health and the right answer to the question; is wax paper safe to eat? Here, discussing the main questions or points is very essential. Let’s break it down.

What Are The Issues You Will Face?

If you accidentally eat wax paper that clings to the food, here are the possible issues you will face:

Potential For Blockage: Eating wax paper in large quantities will lead to blockage in the digestive tract.

Stomach Discomfort: Due to blockage, you probably face stomach disorders such as nausea, bloating, and vomiting.

What Happens If I Accidentally Eat Wax Paper?

What happens if you eat wax paper? In case you accidentally eat wax paper, you don’t need to worry or panic. Sometimes, people panic and ask; is it dangerous and can I die? You don’t need to worry! Nothing will happen as you thought, just take a deep breath and let’s be positive.

However, it may cause small problems, but not the major ones. It is a non-toxic food paper and eating it in a small amount is generally not harmful.

But if you realize you have consumed a large portion of wax paper, then you need to pay attention. Here’s how:

What To Do Next If You Accidentally Eat Wax Paper?

Monitor For Symptoms: First, you need to be alert for signs or symptoms of how your stomach feels. If you feel discomfort or anything else such as stomach pain, or vomiting then it is more likely to cause further stomach problems.

Drink Plenty Of Water: Drinking plenty of water is very beneficial at this point, it will help to move wax paper through the digestive system faster.

Contact A Healthcare Professional If:

If you do not feel well and feel discomfort in your stomach, you must seek professional advice. This will reduce the risk of long-term impacts. Here are the suitable conditions, when you take professional help:

• You eat a large amount of wax paper.
• You experience severe abdominal pain or face difficulties in breathing.
• You have concerns about your health situation.

What Happens If You Accidentally Cook With Wax Paper?

Is wax paper toxic when baked? Yes, it is. If you accidentally cook with wax paper it will cause the coating to melt at high temperature, because the wax paper is not suitable for oven usage. Moreover, it may also cause the paper to wrinkle, smoke, or even catch fire which is potentially toxic.

Not only that, the burn of wax paper can also emit harmful chemicals which are also ignited. The cooking and burning of wax paper is toxic not only for food but also inside the house. So, don’t use wax paper in the oven and near open flames.

Will You Die If You Eat Wax Paper?

For sure, if you eat multiple wax paper rolls at once. But for a small amount, you may not even need to go to the hospital. Wax paper is non-toxic, if you accidentally eat this, it will pass through to your stomach without any disturbance in the stomach in most cases. 

Wax paper is fully food-grade which is why nothing in it is toxic and harmful to health if ingested in a small quantity accidentally. However, if you eat it in large quantities, which sounds funny, this may cause more stomach problems but not that too much as you go to the hospital or die.

Final Thoughts

The simple and appropriate answer to whether or not wax paper is edible is NO.  Although it is food-safe coated, wax paper is not edible and safe for health if consumed in large quantities. Wax paper is not made from food ingredients or itself food, it is typically designed to wrap food and keeps your kitchen countertops and shelves mess-free.

Nothing in paraffin and plant-based wax paper is toxic, they are food-grade and do not contain any harmful chemicals and most importantly they should be safe if you accidentally eat some.