Spalted and food safe?

[Thomas Wilson80]

11” poplar bowl with some patchy, faint black and red spalting (I think it is spalting….the wood was a bit punky). sanded but no finish yet.

I told my kids they could keep whatever they earn at a local farmers market selling some of my stuff and I was curious if spalted wood is food safe or if it should be solely used for decoration.

C&C welcome.

Thanks, Tom

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[Richard Coers]

If it has any zone lines, they will activate if they get damp for a period of time. Your finish will dictate how safe the fungus will remain. if you seal that below a film finish or just have put on a thin coat of organic oil.

[Bill Howatt]

If you dry the wood and seal it up, it is safe. Doesn't matter, if you tell most people it is food safe and the spalting is caused by a fungus they won't want it anyway. You'll probably see them brushing the imaginary spores off as they run away. :)

[Reed Gray]

Look up Dr. Seri Robinson, aka Dr. Spalt. She says that all the fungi that cause spalting are designed/evolved to eat wood, not people. Some of the other fungi out in the woods or the barn yard can be hazardous though.

robo hippy

[Thomas Wilson80]

Thanks for all the info. What does “seal” mean? I typically finish with either Danish oil or Mahoneys. Would sanding sealer + multiple coats of Danish oil be considered “sealed”?
Tom

[David Walser]

A couple (or more) coats of your walnut oil will 'seal' the wood once the finish has cured.

[Reed Gray]

One thing I learned from Seri was that when wood reaches a certain dryness level, and I can't remember what that was, the spalting process stops. I don't know for sure if the spores can be reactivated or not. Sealing the wood is not necessary for getting the spalting to stop.

robo hippy