Question from Cindy

I just returned from my local farm market. The lady I buy eggs from said she rubs them with mineral oil to make them shiny and keep them from absorbing odors from the refrigerator. I said to her “isn’t mineral oil petroleum based?”. She said no, it’s very safe and she implied it’s a common practice to rub the eggs with mineral oil. I didn’t want to argue without more info, so I came home and goggled. Yes, eggs are washed with mineral oil, food grade of course, FDA approved.

Here’s a description from www.eggcartons.com – it explains why this is done:

The surface of an egg shell is covered with thousands of microscopic holes which makes it quite porous. A natural coating referred to as the ‘bloom’ helps seal the holes, preventing bacteria from entering. As the egg ages, the bloom is worn away, which allows moisture to slowly escape and air to enter, forming the ‘air cell’. Bacteria may also enter, and contamination may result. When eggs are washed to remove germs that may be on the surface the bloom is also removed, so a thin coating of oil is applied to take the place of the bloom. This works in the same way as the bloom, keeping the contents fresh for longer periods. The bloom also provides eggs with a natural luster or shine. Mineral oil not only protects your eggs as a sealant but it also restores the luster, the shine of the egg.

Food Grade Mineral Oil makes a great egg shell sealant. One method to preserve eggs is to warm the oil so it is as warm as your hands can work comfortably. To apply the oil, dip clean cloth in it and wipe the egg so that every bit of the shell has been coated. We carry a hand spray (see additional items) use of this hand spray makes coating eggs quickly and more efficiently. After coating the eggs place them (small side down) in egg cartons or egg trays and store in a cool place. The eggs should keep at least 6-8 months.

This food grade mineral oil is an odorless, tasteless, crystal clear, food grade white mineral oil. It meets or exceeds requirements of US FDA regulation 21 CFR 172.878 and CFR178.3620(a) for direct and indirect food contact. It meets or exceeds standards of the US Pharmacopoeia (USP) and the National Formulary (NF). It meets standards for approval as H1 and 3H lubricants for use in food processing plants under the jurisdiction of the USDA. This product is also Kosher approved. It is the lightest viscosity of mineral oil we offer. Great for use in Cosmetics, Health and Beauty, Bee Mite Control, and Many More Applications.

Debra – I eat a lot of eggs. Isn’t the mineral oil absorbed thru the shell into the egg itself? Should I be searching for eggs not washed and treated with mineral oil? Or am I over reacting?

Debra’s Answer

Yes, mineral oil is made from petroleum. There are apparently different grades of mineral oil with different levels of purity. Small producers such as your egg lady at the farmer’s market may or may not understand this. If she didn’t know mineral oil is made from petroleum, she may not know the difference between food grade mineral oil and the stuff you buy at the drug store.

In Guidelines for Certification of Organic Eggs and Meat Birds by Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF) Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, I found the following:

To me, the above means that whatever you put on the shell of the egg will get into the egg. Chlorine (sodium hypochlorate) is allowed, but so are other substances, so we don’t know which is used unless we ask. So eggs may be chlorinated. Hydrogen peroxide would be fine. Sodium hydroxide is lye, not toxic, but caustic (an eat through skin). Sodium carbonate is washing soda (OK). Peracetic acid, in simple terms, is like a mix of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, so that would be OK.

Note it says that mineral oil may NOT be used on eggs because it can permeate the shell. This, however, is only the regulation for this particular organic certification group in Vermont. I tried to find the national USDA standard for eggs, but couldn’t find them easily (readers, if you can find these, please post a link).

I would venture to say that non-organic eggs are most likely coated with mineral oil. Organic eggs probably are not. But it’s best to ask this question of your egg producer, and also what they wash the eggs with. Here’s where is IS a good idea to buy eggs at the farmer’s market, because you can ask the farmers directly. It’s OK with me if you want to print my response here and take it to that farmer who is putting mineral oil on her eggs. Does she sell them as “organic”? I don’t know how much mineral oil actually gets through the eggshell. I don’t think you’re overreacting. Obviously, these organic farmers think it is enough of an issue to not allow it. It’s considered a “food additive.”

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Question from Edy

My doctor wants me to use a re-breathable mask for EWOT. I’m worried about that it is made from plastic. Is there any way that I can offgas this by heat? I don’t want to be breathing any fumes from it. I don’t know what type of plastic it is, but assume it isn’t something an MCSer would want to be breathing.

Thanks, Edy

Debra’s Answer

First, for those of you who don’t know what EWOT is, it’s Exercise With Oxygen Therapy. What’s that? It’s the use of oxygen as a health supplement to enhance athletic performance or simply to bring the body’s oxygen needs up to normal. It seems there are a wide variety of health effects that are a result of oxygen deficiency (see EWOT – Exercise with Oxygen Therapy,

I wasn’t able to find out what type of plastic an oxygen mask is made of, however, oxygen can also be delivered via a “cannula” (search on “oxygen cannula” for online sources), which is just a little piece of hard plastic that fits in your nose. This would be much better than a soft plastic mask. I just visited a friend of mine in the hospital this week, and she had a cannula.

Hard plastics outgas much less than soft plastics as a general rule.

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Question from Jean W.

My husbands office at work was painted with low VOC paint, and now it is chipping.

Can anyone tell me why this would be happening?

He doesn’t know what brand was used since he wasn’t there when the work was done.

Thanks for your help.

Jean

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from YH

Hi,

I would like to live in a place where most houses and buildings have tile or hardwood or other safe floorings and not carpet. Otherwise, it is really hard to find a job or house to live in where there’s no carpet. I think the hotter a place is, the less people install carpet in homes and businesses, right? So other than Texas, what are the states where most houses have hardwood or tile floorings and not carpet?

Heat is another problem. A lot of houses use forced air furnaces, and dust, mold, and other pollutants come out of the vents. I am allergic to dust. If a person smokes in a room, another person can smell it in another room. Radiators are better, but most newer places don’t use radiators anymore. What are the states where most houses don’t use heaters or forced air furnaces?

Air conditioners can also emit dust, but I am not sure. Some houses have both central heat and air. Other than radiators, what kind of heat is better for our health? Electric heat is good, I suppose. What kind of AC is the best?

I would like to move to a place where most houses have hardwood or tile flooring and no forced air furnaces.

Debra’s Answer

Well, that would be the South. Here in Florida, many houses have ceramic tile floors throughout because that’s the coolest. We have hardwood and ceramic tile.

Many houses here do not have central heating because it is rarely needed. Most houses do have air conditioning.

But you can also take out the carpet and install any flooring you want. Likewise heating and air conditioning. You’re not stuck with what is in a house. You can always change it.

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Question from YH

Hi,

Does reverse osmosis filter remove all minerals from the water or remove some minerals? Or does it leave the mineral content intact? I heard that it makes the water more acidic… I can’t drink distilled water or water filtered by Culligan or other machines that use many filters (activated carbon + reverse osmosis + UV light + micron filter), because most of the mineral, if not all, are removed by the machines.

I want to live in a city or town where the water is not fluoridated. Is there a website or somewhere to find places that don’t have fluoridated water?

Debra, do you use a reverse osmosis whole-house filter? It removes chloramine and fluoride, right?

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

Reverse osmosis as a rule removes all types of particles, but not 100% of them. Most of them, but not all. Depends on the system. It makes the water more acidic.

In Nature, spring water contains lots of natural minerals because it has gone through the soil, where it picks up minerals. Rain water is “distilled” because it goes through a cycle of purifying evaporation from the earth and condensation in the cloud before it returns to earth. Historically, spring water has been valued to a point of being spiritually revered. Re cities without fluoride: San Jose, San Diego, New Orleans…for more you might try contacting Fluoride Action Network.

I do not use a reverse-osmosis filter. Mine removes fluoride, but leaves the minerals. For more information on my filter, contact Winston at Go Beyond Organic.

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Question from Fran H.

My elderly aunt just moved into an assisted living facility. This is the type where each person has a small apartment, but there are common living and dining areas. She has lung disease and is very sensitive to odors and chemicals, and is bothered by the plug-in air fresheners used in the common areas and hallways. The facility tried removing the air fresheners but the air smelled stale. Does anyone know of something that would continuously remove odors without adding odors or chemicals to the air? Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

I’d say more ventilation.

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Question from Jen

Hi,

I was wondering what you thought of California 93120 compliant for formaldehyde, phase 1?

www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2007/compwood07/fro-final.pdf

I just purchased a small wood shelf that I thought was solid but apparently it is not but it did have a small sticker on it stating the above (even though I am in CO).

Debra’s Answer

I didn’t read all 59 pages, but it appears to be a phase-out program. Compliance with these regulations does not mean NO formaldehyde, nor even safe levels of formaldehyde. It looks to be a gradual decrease of formaldehyde in certain wood products from now through 2012.

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Question from Marcia

Hi Debra:

The other day I tried out a mattress at a company called Ergo Cusdtomized Comfort in Irvine,which is in Orange County, Calif. They carry the Natura bed and a bed called the Silhouette Sleep Solutions bed. It comes on a slat suspension which consists of two parallel rows of responsive steam-cambered beechwood slats mounted into strong thermo-plastic shocks. According to the brochure, they give just the right amount of give and support for the body. The bed is solid natural latex foam which they say is pure Talalay Latex and comes in a 6″ or 8″ core range of firmness choices. It has an organic stretch cotton cover and states that it’s inherently hypoallergenic, bactericidal and anti-fungal and also has lightweight wool lining and doesn’t need to be turned or flipped. I was wondering if you have heard of this bed and what your opinion is. It came with a mattress topper and felt fairly comfortable. The did say it wasn’t completely organic,but I’m not sure what that means. I also did try the Natura bed which is completely organic, but it didn’t feel quite as comfortable. I would love to know if any of your readers have either of these beds and what their experiences are.

Thanks so much as always!

Marcia

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Michelle Clark

My daughter will start school next week and we need a sleep mat. I would like to find an organic one. She already sleeps in all organic bedding/bed/mattress, and it only seems appropriate to have an organic mat for school. any suggestions?

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Miemiemuis

Dear Debra

I love having the windows open, but since we live in Florida we don’t want to let the house get too hot and humid. My husband is also allergic to pollen and since I have small children I don’t want open windows at night for safety reasons. Our house is fairly new and tight and I’m concerned about indoor air quality. So, to improve indoor air quality, I was wondering if it is worth it to have our A/C changed to let filtered outside air in. We do have a good air filter that we change often, but I am concerned that the outgassing of new construction is polluting our indoor air and not going anywhere.

Thanks for your help

Debra’s Answer

You mention two factors: air conditioning and new construction.

You don’t say how toxic the new construction is.

New construction requires ventilation, so it would be a good idea to have more outdoor air coming in.

However, you can speed the curing of new construction by using heat. You might want to try a bakeout (instructions are on page 395 of my book Home Safe Home, under the head “Curing a Sick House.”

That said, it never hurts to have more ventilation.

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