What should one use to protect wood cutting boards and bowls?

I've been using a product called B's Oil Salad Bowl & Wood Preserver, made by Holland Bowl Mill. It says right on the label that it is made only from natural oils and beeswax. I even called the company, who assured me it was "all-natural". 

We've been using it on our wooden salad bowls and cutting boards since I found it in a fancy San Francisco cooking store years ago. Just recently, we used it to finish the wooden top on a kitchen island we built. It really protects the wood - water beads right up and we felt good having the beeswax around our organic food. It has no odor, except for the slight sweetness of beeswax. 



The Holland Bowl Mill website says it has received many letters from customers telling them B's Oil is so gentle that they use it as their favorite hand cream moisturizer. 

So I was surprised to find out that it is actually made from beeswax and mineral oil! I had a long phone conversation with the owner and made sure he understood that you cannot label a product containing mineral oil as natural. I see he has changed the description on his website after our conversation. 



I set out to find a truly all-natural wood conditioner for my wooden salad bowls and cutting boards, and discovered some interesting things even many woodworkers don't know. 

It is important to apply some kind of protection to wood cutting boards and bowls before using them the first time, to prevent staining and absorption of food odors and bacteria, and to keep water from penetrating the wood, which results in warping and cracking. 



Some suggest "seasoning" the wood with oil, just as you would a cast-iron pan. Warm the oil slightly, and apply in the direction of the grain, allowing it to soak in between each coat. Apply four or five coats of oil. Wait about four to six hours between coats, and wipe off any excess oil that did not soak in before applying the next coat of warm oil. 



Debra :-)

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.