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Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide

Medically reviewed by
Natalie Olsen, RD, LD,
ACSM EP-C on April 13,
2018 — Written by Scott
Frothingham
Uses Home remedies Risks Outlook
v

 What is 35 percent food grade hydrogen ADVERTISEMENT

 peroxide?
z Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a clear, colorless, odorless liquid. It’s a combination of hydrogen
and oxygen and is available in many strengths (indicated by the percentage of dilution with

water).

One dilution of hydrogen peroxide is 35 percent H2O2 and 65 percent water. Food producers
use 35 percent H2O2 for a variety of purposes, including processing cheese and bleaching
wheat flour. It’s also used to kill microorganisms in food packaging materials.

This 35 percent dilution is called “food grade” in part because it doesn’t contain certain
stabilizers:

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These stabilizers are found in most other commercially available hydrogen peroxide and
should not be ingested.
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Peroxide on My Skin?
No matter the dilution — even if food grade 35 percent H2O2 — you should never drink any
hydrogen peroxide.

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Beyond food grade, hydrogen peroxide is available in a number of dilutions:

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3 percent H2O2 (“household” hydrogen peroxide): available in supermarkets and and Gut
drugstores, typically in brown bottles
6 to 10 percent H2O2 (hair-bleaching hydrogen peroxide)
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90 percent H2O2 (“industrial” hydrogen peroxide): available in various strengths and used 60, or 120 Seconds
for bleaching paper and textiles, producing foam rubber, and as an ingredient in rocket
fuel

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Food grade hydrogen peroxide uses

Diluted food grade hydrogen peroxide is often part of dental care products and processes:

mouthwash
toothpaste (mixed with baking soda)
tooth whitening
toothbrush cleaning

People also use diluted food grade hydrogen peroxide in home food preparation and storage,
including:

vegetable antibacterial wash

lettuce preservative
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meat or poultry marinade Your 40s, 50s, and 60s 

Diluted with water, it’s also used in food-related home cleaning such as:

cutting board disinfection

countertop disinfection
sponge and dish cloth cleaning
refrigerator cleaning
lunchbox disinfection

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Medical uses for 35 percent hydrogen

peroxide
There are a variety of home medical remedies based on dilutions of food grade hydrogen
peroxide that, although unsupported by research, are suggested by some supporters of
alternative medical treatments. A Guide to the Confusing World of
Face Acids and Which Ones to
These home remedies include: Use 

disinfecting small cuts and scrapes

gargling to treat sore throat
treating acne
soaking boils
treating foot fungus
softening calluses and corns
treating ear infections
killing skin mites
whitening nails

Some advocates of food grade hydrogen peroxide for alternative health practices justify their
position with the theory that disease is fueled by low levels of oxygen in the body.

Although there is no basis for this on scientific evidence, these advocates recommend food
grade hydrogen peroxide — in an assortment of dilutions — for maladies including cancer,
allergies, emphysema, AIDS, warts, lupus, arthritis, diabetes, and others. ADVERTISEMENT

These remedies are not confirmed through medical studies and should not be attempted at
home.

The dangers of exposure to food grade

hydrogen peroxide
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Food grade hydrogen peroxide is safe to be used on food products in minimal amounts. But it
Skin 
can be toxic if you inhale or ingest it or if it comes in contact with your skin or eyes.

Inhalation
Inhaling food grade hydrogen peroxide can cause:

sore throat
cough
nausea
dizziness
headache
shortness of breath

If you have inhaled H2O2, contact your doctor.

Contact with skin

Food grade hydrogen peroxide can be corrosive to skin, possibly resulting in:
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whiteness
skin burns
redness
pain

If your skin is exposed, immediately wash it with lukewarm water and soap for at least 10
minutes and contact your doctor.

Contact with eyes

Food grade hydrogen peroxide can be corrosive to the eyes, possibly resulting in:
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pain
redness Yes No
blurred vision
severe, deep burns
corneal ulceration

If your eyes are splashed with H2O2, immediately rinse with running water for at least 15
minutes and contact your doctor.

Drinking or ingesting
Swallowing food grade H2O2 could result in:

sore throat
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
possible internal bleeding

If you have ingested food grade hydrogen peroxide, drink as much water as possible and
contact your doctor.

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The outlook
Although there are many uses for food grade hydrogen peroxide, medical professionals
suggest that you do not ingest it and that you use extreme caution when handling it.

This liquid can damage your skin and your eyes.

If you’re considering using food grade H2O2 for any reason, including as a treatment for a
medical condition, you should consult with your doctor beforehand.

 6 sources   v  z  FEEDBACK:  

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