Is Wax Paper Edible & What Happens If You Accidentally Eat It?

Wax paper is a common, but essential kitchen item often used in cooking and baking. The small paper sheets seem like ordinary paper sheets but the convenience of these sheets is quite far better than you think.

Let’s assume you’ve eaten wax paper, not just like eating a sandwich, but more like a significant portion, say 1.5 by 2 inches. There could be several reasons for this accident such as the wax coating melting onto the food or a corner of the wax paper sticking to the sandwich, right?

Once you realize oh… No! I have eaten the wax paper and wondered; is wax paper edible or not? If it’s not, then what happens next in your stomach?

In this detailed guide, we will explore everything related to wax paper and find the answers to your questions. So, let’s examine, can you eat wax paper and what happens if you accidentally eat wax paper, is it safe or harmful to health?

Is Wax Paper Edible?

No, wax paper is not edible, simple is that. It is typically designed for food preparation to make daily life kitchen tasks faster and simpler, not just eating itself as a food item.

Here, one question comes to your mind; okay, we don’t eat wax paper so why do we use it for various food purposes like cooking or baking?

Why You Don’t Eat Wax Paper?

To reveal that, let’s discuss what exactly a wax paper is. Wax paper is a food-specifically designed food paper that is usually used in the kitchen. It is wax-coated, which is considered food-safe because it’s made from food-grade materials.

Over here it doesn’t mean, the wax coating is food-safe so you can eat this. Food-safe means it is only safe for direct food contact not consumed directly. However, not eating wax paper is a suggestion because its consumption may cause several stomach issues if it remains undigested.

What Makes Wax Paper Not Edible?

Understanding the key reasons or factors that make wax paper not edible is crucial for better understanding. Well, there are many reasons why wax paper is not edible and unsafe to eat for health if consumed directly. Discussing all is not possible here, but we try to discuss major ones. Here are some of the major reasons:

Chemicals & Contamination: Wax paper is passed through many chemical processes to remove impurities and enhance their abilities. If the additives in wax paper are consumed, it may cause several health issues.

Coating: The wax used in wax paper is mostly paraffin, a petroleum-based coating. It makes the paper non-stick and non-edible by a normal human body.

Non-Food Ingredient: As we discussed earlier, wax paper is designed for food preparation, it contains several additives or properties to keep the food safe, but not consumed as a food ingredient because your body won’t break it down and it will pass through your digestive system largely intact. 

Is Wax Paper Safe for Food Preparation?

Many people have been using wax paper a lot daily in their kitchens for cooking, baking, and storing food, but they don’t know many things which can lead to several misconceptions.

As the wax paper has direct contact with the food, people are not sure; whether it is safe to eat food such as sandwiches wrapped in sandwich paper or not. Similarly, here is a list with a bunch of questions related to wax paper and food. Let’s answer them one by one:

Can Wax Paper Absorb Into Food?

No, wax paper is not absorbed into the food unless you use it in the oven. However,  it helps to keep the food safe and fresh as it is specifically designed for it. Wax paper works like a block between the food and the environmental elements, and appears to be a safe and faithful choice for food wrapping.

Is Wax Paper Safe For Oven Usage?

Wax paper is not designed for use in ovens or other high-temperature appliances. So, don’t use wax paper in the oven instead of parchment paper.

There is a high possibility of the coating melting when exposed to high temperatures like in the oven or open flames, which leads to the coating being absorbed into the food. Here are some of the effects of wax paper absorption:

• Flavour: Although wax paper is tasteless, it can affect the food taste by mixing grease, oil, and coating that melts due to high temperature.
• Texture: Wax paper absorption causes paper stickiness with the food, which can negatively impact the overall cooking or baking experience.

Can You Cook With Wax Paper?

No! Wax paper is flammable and catches fire quickly. Let’s understand this with an example:

Imagine you cook scones and use wax paper as an alternative to parchment paper, just considering parchment paper is the same as wax paper, which is absolutely not. If you put scones into the oven, which makes the kitchen smell and then after a short time, it is highly possible a bunch of smoke or something will escape from the oven.

What Happens If I Accidentally Eat Wax Paper?

If you have eaten a piece of paper between cheese slices or may it stick with the pizza and you ignored it. After that, you realize it is possibly a piece of wax or parchment paper, and now confused; is it dangerous or not?

First, you don’t need to worry or go out of control to try different methods, nothing will happen as you often think will I die or something like that, just take a deep breath, take your shoulders down, and relax!

Eating wax paper in such a lower quantity doesn’t result in going to the hospital, but there is a chance that you experience excruciating stomach pains, such as:

Potential For Blockage: Eating wax paper will lead to blockage and could cause stomach upset, but smaller quantities won’t cause any serious issues. 

Stomach Discomfort: Due to the inability to digest, you likely face stomach disorders such as bloating and vomiting.

What Should You Do Now When You Accidentally Eat Wax Paper?

There is no need to panic, eating wax paper in such a sufficient quantity will likely pass through the digestive system and you won’t feel discomfort in your stomach. However, following these steps is crucial to avoid any health issues:

• Monitor unusual symptoms such as abdominal pain and vomiting.
• Drink plenty of water and fluids, it helps make paper edible by moving through the digestive system.
• Get a doctor or expert guidance if you have eaten wax paper in large quantities or are feeling unwell.

Will You Die If You Eat Wax Paper?

It depends on the wax paper rolls you have eaten like four, no five, or maybe a dozen. If you have eaten a ton of wax paper rolls in a row you will definitely go to the hospital and more likely die as well. But, for a significant paper portion such as 1.5 or 2 inches of a wax paper sheet part, nothing will happen for sure.

Final Thoughts

Wax paper is non-toxic and eating it in small quantities accidentally will unlikely cause any harm, but it doesn’t mean to be eaten. Wax paper is food-safe and specifically designed for kitchen usage, the unmatched properties and abilities of wax paper to keep the food safe from contamination and keep it fresh for a long time can be utilized in the kitchen.

It is suggested to use wax paper just only for cooking and food preparation and avoid its consumption in any way. Lastly, there is nothing toxic or harmful in wax paper, so there’s no need to worry if you have eaten a small quantity.