Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesIs It Safe?Dilution
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Is It Safe?
Dilution
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a clear and somewhat acidic liquid made up of two oxygen and two hydrogen atoms.Food-grade hydrogen peroxide refers to 35% concentratedhydrogen peroxide. It’s known as “food-grade” because it doesn’t contain particular stabilizers that are harmful if ingested.
Food-grade hydrogen peroxide is used as a bleaching agent in certain foods, an active ingredient in dental products, and to clean produce and disinfect household surfaces.Some people claim that it can be used as a form of alternative medicine, but it’s highly dangerous to consume.
This article will go over the most common uses of food-grade hydrogen peroxide, as well as safety tips, potential health complications, and how to dilute it before use.
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Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide vs. Regular Hydrogen PeroxideYou’re probably most familiar with 3% hydrogen peroxide, which is sold over-the-counter (OTC) in a highly diluted form as anantisepticto clean minor wounds. At 35% concentration, food-grade hydrogen peroxide is far stronger than regular hydrogen peroxide.
Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide vs. Regular Hydrogen Peroxide
You’re probably most familiar with 3% hydrogen peroxide, which is sold over-the-counter (OTC) in a highly diluted form as anantisepticto clean minor wounds. At 35% concentration, food-grade hydrogen peroxide is far stronger than regular hydrogen peroxide.
What Is Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide Used For?
Food-grade hydrogen peroxide, or 35% hydrogen peroxide, can be used as a disinfectant for household surfaces and items, as well as produce and plants. It’s also used in dental products. In food, it can be used as a bleaching or oxidizing agent or as an adhesive during the manufacturing process.
Cleaning Produce and Plants
Some people use diluted food-grade hydrogen peroxide to soak their fruits and vegetables before eating, as well as to make them last longer.
Disinfectant
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful disinfectant. In its food-grade form, it’s used in household and commercial cleaning products to disinfect hard surfaces, including those that might touch your food, such as refrigerators, sponges, and countertops.
Due to its antimicrobial properties, diluted food-grade hydrogen peroxide is even used in healthcare settings to sterilize medical equipment, such asventilators.
Dental Products
Diluted food-grade hydrogen peroxide is found in many dental products. These includetooth whitening products, such as gels and strips, as well as mouthwashes and toothpastes. It’s also an active ingredient in many products used to clean toothbrushes and other oral health equipment.
Processing and Preserving Food
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes food-grade hydrogen peroxide as a safe food additive when used as an adhesive or bleaching agent. For example, it’s used as part of the cheese-making process, as well as to bleach bread flour and certain kinds of seafood and beef.
When Isn’t Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide Safe?
In recent years, some proponents of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have promoted food-grade hydrogen peroxide as a remedy for a variety of medical purposes.
For example, some people advocate using 35% hydrogen peroxide as a skin soak for conditions like corns and calluses or an ear wash forear infections.Others believe that food-grade hydrogen peroxide can be used as a mouth rinse to treat viral infections, such asCOVID-19or the flu.
A Word From VerywellDiluted food grade hydrogen peroxide can be useful for disinfecting household items such as cutting boards, cleaning sponges and rags, refrigerators and countertops. However, it shouldnotbe ingested, as this can cause dangerous health complications.—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Diluted food grade hydrogen peroxide can be useful for disinfecting household items such as cutting boards, cleaning sponges and rags, refrigerators and countertops. However, it shouldnotbe ingested, as this can cause dangerous health complications.—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Diluted food grade hydrogen peroxide can be useful for disinfecting household items such as cutting boards, cleaning sponges and rags, refrigerators and countertops. However, it shouldnotbe ingested, as this can cause dangerous health complications.
—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
How to Dilute Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide
Food-grade hydrogen peroxide is extremely strong, so it needs to be diluted before use.The ratio for food-grade hydrogen peroxide is typically 11 parts water to 1 part 35% hydrogen peroxide. This creates a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
People who dilute food-grade hydrogen peroxide for at-home use, such as gardeners, recommend following these steps:
Summary
Food-grade hydrogen peroxide refers to hydrogen peroxide in its 35% concentrated form. It’s used as a bleaching agent and adhesive for certain foods, such as cheese and flour. Additionally, it’s an active ingredient in some oral health and cleaning products, especially those used to clean plants and produce.
Some people claim that 35% hydrogen peroxide can be used in alternative home remedies for various conditions. However, these claims are unsubstantiated. Consuming food-grade hydrogen peroxide can lead to serious and even fatal side effects. If you’ve ingested food-grade hydrogen peroxide, you should seek medical help right away.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hydrogen peroxide.United States Department of Agriculture.Hydrogen peroxide.Karimi R, Sharma A, Tran K, Montgomery S.Hydrogen peroxide colitis: The accidental enema.HCA Healthc J Med. 2021;2(2):105-108. doi:10.36518/2689-0216.1096U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chemical disinfectants.National Library of Medicine.H2O2.Cervantes Trejo A, Castañeda ID, Rodríguez AC, et al.Hydrogen peroxide as an adjuvant therapy for COVID-19: A case series of patients and caregivers in the Mexico City metropolitan area.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5592042. doi:10.1155/2021/5592042Pak S, Valencia D, Lee C, Lach J, Ortiz G.Ingestion of food grade hydrogen peroxide with resultant gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Case report and review with emphasis on the therapeutic value of HBO2 in vascular gas embolism.Undersea Hyperb Med. 2021;48(2):177-186. doi:10.22462/03.04.2021.9Hendriksen SM, Menth NL, Westgard BC, et al.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the prevention of arterial gas embolism in food grade hydrogen peroxide ingestion.Am J Emerg Med. 2017;35(5):809.e5-809.e8. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2016.12.027U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Environmental assessment for food contact notification FCN 2165.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hydrogen peroxide.United States Department of Agriculture.Hydrogen peroxide.Karimi R, Sharma A, Tran K, Montgomery S.Hydrogen peroxide colitis: The accidental enema.HCA Healthc J Med. 2021;2(2):105-108. doi:10.36518/2689-0216.1096U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chemical disinfectants.National Library of Medicine.H2O2.Cervantes Trejo A, Castañeda ID, Rodríguez AC, et al.Hydrogen peroxide as an adjuvant therapy for COVID-19: A case series of patients and caregivers in the Mexico City metropolitan area.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5592042. doi:10.1155/2021/5592042Pak S, Valencia D, Lee C, Lach J, Ortiz G.Ingestion of food grade hydrogen peroxide with resultant gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Case report and review with emphasis on the therapeutic value of HBO2 in vascular gas embolism.Undersea Hyperb Med. 2021;48(2):177-186. doi:10.22462/03.04.2021.9Hendriksen SM, Menth NL, Westgard BC, et al.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the prevention of arterial gas embolism in food grade hydrogen peroxide ingestion.Am J Emerg Med. 2017;35(5):809.e5-809.e8. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2016.12.027U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Environmental assessment for food contact notification FCN 2165.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hydrogen peroxide.United States Department of Agriculture.Hydrogen peroxide.Karimi R, Sharma A, Tran K, Montgomery S.Hydrogen peroxide colitis: The accidental enema.HCA Healthc J Med. 2021;2(2):105-108. doi:10.36518/2689-0216.1096U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chemical disinfectants.National Library of Medicine.H2O2.Cervantes Trejo A, Castañeda ID, Rodríguez AC, et al.Hydrogen peroxide as an adjuvant therapy for COVID-19: A case series of patients and caregivers in the Mexico City metropolitan area.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5592042. doi:10.1155/2021/5592042Pak S, Valencia D, Lee C, Lach J, Ortiz G.Ingestion of food grade hydrogen peroxide with resultant gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Case report and review with emphasis on the therapeutic value of HBO2 in vascular gas embolism.Undersea Hyperb Med. 2021;48(2):177-186. doi:10.22462/03.04.2021.9Hendriksen SM, Menth NL, Westgard BC, et al.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the prevention of arterial gas embolism in food grade hydrogen peroxide ingestion.Am J Emerg Med. 2017;35(5):809.e5-809.e8. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2016.12.027U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Environmental assessment for food contact notification FCN 2165.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hydrogen peroxide.
United States Department of Agriculture.Hydrogen peroxide.
Karimi R, Sharma A, Tran K, Montgomery S.Hydrogen peroxide colitis: The accidental enema.HCA Healthc J Med. 2021;2(2):105-108. doi:10.36518/2689-0216.1096
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chemical disinfectants.
National Library of Medicine.H2O2.
Cervantes Trejo A, Castañeda ID, Rodríguez AC, et al.Hydrogen peroxide as an adjuvant therapy for COVID-19: A case series of patients and caregivers in the Mexico City metropolitan area.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5592042. doi:10.1155/2021/5592042
Pak S, Valencia D, Lee C, Lach J, Ortiz G.Ingestion of food grade hydrogen peroxide with resultant gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Case report and review with emphasis on the therapeutic value of HBO2 in vascular gas embolism.Undersea Hyperb Med. 2021;48(2):177-186. doi:10.22462/03.04.2021.9
Hendriksen SM, Menth NL, Westgard BC, et al.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the prevention of arterial gas embolism in food grade hydrogen peroxide ingestion.Am J Emerg Med. 2017;35(5):809.e5-809.e8. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2016.12.027
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Environmental assessment for food contact notification FCN 2165.
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