
Beeswax Wraps & Jojoba Oil – Good + Bad = Bad

Beeswax cloths are an excellent alternative to classic plastic cling film, can be reused after a short cleaning process and keep vegetables, fruit and food fresh for a long time. But Stiftung Warentest now warns against its use.
The beeswax cloths - fact check: For some time now, kitchen utensils have been a thorn in the side of people who live sustainably, as in most cases they contain a lot of plastic or are manufactured under environmentally harmful conditions. Simple examples of this are plastic wrap and aluminum foil, both of which are unsustainable and yet are used in large quantities, especially when storing opened food or opened packages.
A well-functioning alternative is beeswax cloths, which can now be purchased at affordable prices in large drugstore chains or can simply be made at home.
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However, in January 2020, Stiftung Warentest made people sit up and take notice with a Facebook posting in which it said that beeswax cloths could be harmful to health, as the components of many beeswax cloths, especially jojoba oil, can be transferred to packaged foods and are harmful to health.
Jojoba oil is obtained from the jojoba bush, which grows in the deserts of America and Mexico. It was discovered by Spanish missionaries in the New World as early as 1716, the discovery of the oil is dated to 1895, and the first use of the oil occurred in 1933 after the striking similarity to wax was noticed.
Jojoba oil is used industrially primarily in the production of skin creams and herbal medicines. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has advised against using it as a dietary supplement; this has been prohibited by law since 2007 because the seeds were found to be toxic in animal experiments.
The above-mentioned contribution from Stiftung Warentest is based on the assumption that jojoba oil is used in beeswax wraps and that this can be transferred to the food, especially in fatty foods, and thus cause health problems. It should also be mentioned at this point that beeswax is permitted as a food additive, but is also unhealthy in large quantities.
Let us note two things at this point:
- Beeswax is only harmful if it is contaminated with pollutants, i.e. if it was produced under conditions that allowed contamination or contamination of the beeswax, unless this already occurs in the beehive itself. The origin of the honey is therefore crucial.
- Jojoba oil is used as a waterproofing aid in the production of beeswax wraps and is then transferred to foods if they do not have a shell or contain fat, which makes it easier to release the jojoba oil.
The solution to both problems is obvious.
The beeswax used must not contain any contamination and should only come from sustainable production. The easiest way to do this is to make the wipes yourself at home, as you choose the beeswax for production yourself and can therefore take control yourself, or by using certified manufacturers who clearly disclose the sources from which the beeswax used is obtained .
In addition, many manufacturers have already abandoned the use of jojoba oil and are using alternatives that do not have any harmful effects.
Mimikama asked the manufacturer of beeswax wraps “BeeFoodWraps – Beeswax Wraps” which alternatives to jojoba oil they use.
Simple answer: none at all!
The wipes are made only with beeswax and are regularly tested in combination with different foods to check their compatibility. To do this, food is wrapped in the cloths for 24 hours and then tested in the laboratory. Except for very fatty foods, no exceedance of the recommended limit values could be determined. The Böblingen Health Department even checks for mineral oils.
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Conclusion
In summary, it can be said that beeswax cloths made with jojoba oil can actually contain pollutant levels that are harmful to health and are therefore not necessarily recommended, especially for fatty foods. However, jojoba oil is not a mandatory ingredient and, like the manufacturer we contacted, is even left out. This eliminates the health risk and ensures sustainability.
Sources and references:
Stiftung Warentest: Beeswax wraps are not a solution
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment: Jojoba seeds are not suitable for consumption
Bee Food Wraps: Oilcloths Yes!
But please WITHOUT jojoba oil. Bios shop info: Valuable things from nature. The jojoba oil
Author: Alexander Herberstein
Article image: Shutterstock / By Fevziie
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication
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The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual articles (not fact checks) were created using machine help and
were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )
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