Acrylic is one of the most popular painting mediums due to its wide variety of uses and qualities. It is also one of the trickiest media to classify as either food safe or not because it can be categorized both ways depending on how it is used.
Acrylic paint has some characteristics that make it unique and interesting to use. The main ingredient in acrylic paint is polymerized water, which makes it very durable and will never completely evaporate. This allows for many different styles of painting and extended exposure times before washing off.
Another important quality of acrylic paint is its ability to dry, or harden, naturally. This means you do not have to worry about leaving the canvas sitting around wet for too long, the natural flow of the paint dries within an adequate amount of time.
However, neither of these two properties necessarily implies safety when using acrylic paints as a culinary artist. Because there are no nutrients in acrylic paint, artists usually mix it with another liquid to create their final product. These liquids may contain oils or other additives such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide that could potentially go bad if consumed.
This article will discuss whether or not common ingredients found in all types of acrylic paints are considered foods under the FDA’s regulations.
History of the CDC
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was formed in 1946 during World War II, when President Harry S Truman signed an executive order creating it. At that time, there were only six people working at the organization! Since then, the CDC has grown to be one of the largest organizations within the government, with over 4,500 employees and nearly $6 billion spent annually on operations alone.
The main focus of the CDC is protecting public health through disease control and prevention. They work with other agencies and departments to ensure that infectious diseases are spread less frequently by educating individuals about appropriate behaviors and vaccinations, developing policies and procedures to prevent outbreaks, conducting research to find new ways to diagnose and treat illnesses, and providing accessible healthcare services.
Acrylic paint is not considered food by most experts. Because acrylics contain latex, a compound that can cause allergic reactions in some people, many artists use special precautions while painting. These include using gloves or plastic covers to protect your hands from getting wet, and/or washing your brushes immediately after each project to avoid skin contact.
However, non-artists may still be able to enjoy all the colors and shapes acrylic paints offer without worrying about whether they qualify as food.
What is the FDA warning about?
Recent reports of allergic reactions or health issues linked to acrylic paint have people wondering if it is safe to use. Unfortunately, it seems that just like any other material, some individuals are hypersensitive or intolerant to it.
Some studies suggest that exposure to certain chemicals in acrylic paints can cause an allergy or intolerance to similar chemicals such as dyes, solvents, and additives.
Acrylic paint contains small amounts of ethylenically unsaturated compounds (EUCs) such as linseed oil, myristic acid, and maleic acid. These EUCs can react with moisture in the air to form volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which include benzene, toluene, and xylene.
Symptoms of VOC sensitivity vary depending on what components of the acrylic paint you are exposed to. Some patients may experience nasal congestion, throat irritation, skin rashes, hives, shortness of breath, or chest tightness.
In very severe cases, anaphylactic shock or respiratory failure may occur. Because many brands of acrylic painting materials contain similar levels of VOCs, it is difficult to determine whether one brand or type of paint has caused your symptoms.
What is the CDC warning about?
Recent reports of allergic reactions or health issues associated with acrylic paint have people worried. Unfortunately, these stories are increasing in frequency and severity.
Many individuals report experiencing symptoms such as skin rashes, hives, throat swelling, respiratory difficulty, and/or vomiting within hours of exposure to various brands of acrylic paints.
Some patients even experience anaphylactic shock which can be life-threatening!
Fortunately, it is possible to determine if your painted surface contains acrylic paint by looking at the ingredients listed on the product.
If you learn that the paint does contain acrylonitrile, then you should probably avoid touching it and washing it for at least 48 hours. After this period, test patches of new paint on a small area of bare skin to see if you are able to wash off any leftover particles.
Are they all correct?
Recent reports have indicated that some brands of acrylic paint contain gluten, which is a food source for some people. Gluten can cause serious health issues such as inflammation or immune reactions in those who are sensitive to it.
Some studies indicate that one cannot be sure whether or not you will become sick from painting with acrylics that may contain gluten unless you have an allergy to it.
Because many artists’ hands develop calluses when working with paints, there is also a risk that these thickening agents could contain traces of gluten that might affect someone with a sensitivity.
Who should I believe?
Acrylic paint is such a popular medium that it can be tricky to know what products are safe for you to use it with. As mentioned before, acrylic paints contain polymers and monomers which combine to form the finished product. These chemicals play an important part in how long your painting will last as well as whether or not it will potentially react with other substances.
Some people may refer to these additives as volatile compounds or toxic components, but they are completely natural and do not pose any health risks unless someone has a sensitivity towards them.
In fact, many artists and creative professionals find that these additives help their paintings dry more smoothly and quickly, creating a smoother surface. This could mean a difference between having to re-coat your canvas or not!
Sadly, just like anything else we consume, some individuals are chemically sensitive and develop symptoms related to exposure. People who suffer from this often have strong reactions to certain foods or medications, so why would acrylic paint be different?
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce irritation caused by these chemicals if you are aware of them. Many experts suggest limiting or avoiding sugar, alcohol, and tobacco to see better results. But what about food colors?
Does The Color Of My Acrylic Painting Matter?
It very likely does! According to one artist’s experience, red acrylic paints seem to cause issues for some people.
What should I do?
Recent reports of people suffering severe skin reactions when using new acrylic paint products have many people worried. While there is no clear answer as to what caused these reactions, one thing is for sure – they are NOT food safe!
Acrylic paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can cause negative health effects on those exposed to them. VOCs easily evaporate into the air we breathe, so making brushes or thin layers of paint very moist may not be the best way to work with it.
Some of the most common VOCs in acrylic paint include benzene, toluene, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, and methyl salicylate. All of these chemicals can affect our body’s internal systems, including how our hormones function.
In some cases, exposure to high levels of VOCs can even be harmful. For example, studies show that benzene can damage your blood cells and lymphocytes, potentially causing immune system issues.
Is it dangerous?
Even though acrylic paint is categorized as a non-food product, that doesn’t mean there are not risks involved in using it while baking or cooking. In fact, several studies show that some types of acrylic paints can be harmful when consumed by children or adults.
Acrylic paint contains chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs can evaporate into the air when you apply thin coats of acrylic paint to various surfaces. Some of these VOCs can potentially irritate your respiratory system or even cause serious health problems.
Research has linked many types of common acrylic paint to negative health effects in humans. Because different brands and colors of acrylic paint contain different levels of VOCs, it is difficult to say if any one type poses more risk than others. However, what we do know is that the higher the concentration of VOCs, the greater the potential for health issues.
It is important to note that although most types of acrylic paint are not considered food products, they must still meet safety standards before being sold. Therefore, this information should be noted along with our recommendations to bake, cook, wash, or clean dishes using only fresh, dried, or powdery materials.
Does it go bad?
Technically, no! Most acrylic paints are not made of resin or latex that can oxidize and break down. Rather, they contain an organic compound called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) that breaks down into water and oxygen over time.
However, this does not mean that you cannot suffer chemical reactions from your paint when it is exposed to air for a few hours.
You may be able to avoid this by either using plastic wrap to cover your painting or baking it under a broiler flame until dry.
Acrylic paint will also begin to degrade after several months if it has not been used up. This is because it contains volatile chemicals which evaporate over time.