What is food-grade hydrogen peroxide (H2o2)?
Most commercially available peroxide products contain added dangerous chemicals (usually acetanilide or silver) to prolong the shelf life and maximize their profits. Unfortunately, these same chemicals are harmful to humans, pets, and the environment causing illness and diseases like cancer.
The term “food-grade hydrogen peroxide (H2o2),” is defined as being free from these dangerous chemicals and toxic materials, which means that there is nothing added to the hydrogen peroxide, so it does not contain any added chemicals, stabilizers and or toxins. Therefore, it is the cleanest and purest form of H2o2 that you can buy for your disinfecting needs.
Because H2o2 without added chemicals is rapidly decomposed in the body, it is unlikely to cause chronic toxicity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that pure hydrogen peroxide is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans and is not included in Reproductive and Developmental Toxicants, a 1991 report published by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) that lists 30 chemicals of concern because of widely acknowledged reproductive and developmental consequences. (1)
Like anything in the world, there are a few drawbacks and dangers that you need to be aware of when using this product as a disinfectant, which mainly has to do with the various concentrations/percentages that are commercially available. But if you follow simple safety procedures and use the right percentage as prescribed in this article, you can safely disinfect your building and equipment without worrying about toxic chemicals in the air and surfaces or getting asthma or cancer from the product you are using.
Food-grade hydrogen peroxide is mainly used during the cleaning, disinfecting, manufacturing, and or cooking of food products. Still, it is also used in medical, dental, and other business settings where people are worried about coming in contact with harmful chemicals during the cleaning process resulting in toxic exposure.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers H2o2 to be an effective and safe disinfectant for controlling microbial pests:
“Hydrogen peroxide, well known as an ingredient in disinfectant products, is now also approved for controlling microbial pests on crops growing indoors and outdoors, and on certain crops after harvest. This active ingredient prevents and controls bacteria and fungi that cause serious plant diseases. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down rapidly in the environment to oxygen and water and is not expected to cause adverse effects to humans or the environment when users follow label directions.”
The reason "food grade hydrogen peroxide" is becoming the preferred disinfectant over chlorine dioxide ie: bleach for many people during the coronavirus epidemic is because there are no toxic chemicals in the product or bottles that can leach into the exposed product, which could result in tiny fragments of toxins transferring directly into the environment to be breathed in or soaked through the skin via dermal absorption.
When products, materials, and equipment are designed to be food grade, these chemicals and hazards are removed from the process so that no toxins can leach into that product. Hence, it means it is of a quality suitable for human breathing, dermal absorption, consumption, or for use in food production or storage, medical, and office equipment. Hence, it will not cause harm to the end-user.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has specific standards to make sure that no dangerous chemicals and toxins in cleaning and disinfecting products transfer to the food and or environment in a significant way. The FDA reserves food grade for a list for sanitizers and other “substances utilized to control the growth of microorganisms”, and includes the most common active ingredients as well as whether the sanitizer requires a rinse or not to make sure that no harmful residues are left behind.
The FDA has identified hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, CAS Reg. No. 7722-84-1) solution containing not more than 35 percent hydrogen peroxide (CAS Reg. No. 7722-84-1) by weight, to be used safely to sterilize polymeric food-contact surfaces following the specifications of the Food Chemicals Codex (3d ed. (1981), pp. 146-147, 1). (3) However, 35% is very dangerous to handle and transport. Also, the United States Postal Service (USPS) considers anything above 8% as toxic and treats as such for mailing purposes.
The EPA has stated, "Whether a substance poses a risk to humans or other organisms depends on two factors: how toxic the substance is, and how much of it an organism is exposed to. Therefore, the EPA considers toxicity data and exposure data in deciding whether to approve a pesticide for use. No adverse effects to the public are expected from these agricultural uses of hydrogen peroxide because;
1) it is used at low concentrations
2) it decomposes rapidly and harmlessly to water and oxygen, leaving no residue
3) it is used in manufacturing and processing certain foods
4) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers it GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for food use. However, personal protective equipment is required for individuals handling concentrated end-products, which can be corrosive and irritating to eyes and skin. (1)
The most commonly available and safest commercial solutions for daily disinfecting needs are in the diluted form from 3% to 10%. The higher concentrations of 8%, 10%, and 30-35% are mainly for industrial use, and is strongly irritating and may be corrosive, while a solution of .5-3% is adequate for household use and only mildly irritating.
Please be aware that high concentrations above 3%, and especially 10%, can be dangerous to handle and breathe, so adequate precautions should be taken if using such a product. If ingested, concentrations of 9% are generally considered nontoxic; however, even a 3% solution is mildly irritating to mucosal tissue and may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Ingestion of industrial-strength solutions causes systemic toxicity and has been associated with fatalities.(1)
CONCLUSION:
Like anything in life, food-grade hydrogen peroxide has its pros and cons, but if it is used correctly by the end-user in the appropriate percentages for proper application, it definitely can be used safely as a disinfectant.
With that said and the supporting science listed above, any person and or business who wants to use a non-toxic and 100% biodegradable disinfecting/sanitizing product that does not cause illness and or disease may want to give it a try.
SOURCES:
1. Medical Management Guidelines for Hydrogen Peroxide
2. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) H2o2 Fact Sheet -
3. Federal Drug Administration (FDA)