Making Paper Mache Food Safety - Ask Extension
Hi there,
Were a stem fest team that needs to make a product that would help our community in food insecurity. We are planning to make a container to...
Knowledgebase
Making Paper Mache Food Safety #892056
Asked January 29, 2025, 8:44 AM EST
Hi there,
Were a stem fest team that needs to make a product that would help our community in food insecurity. We are planning to make a container to send out meals to people. We're making a 3D model then putting paper Mache on it to model it. Our question is how do we make the paper Mache Food safe?
Licking County Ohio
Expert Response
A basic paper mache mixture made with flour and water is technically considered "food safe," and is not recommended for direct food contact due to the potential for the paper to absorb moisture and become soggy (and moldy); to make paper mache food safe, you need to apply a food-safe sealant once the piece is completely dry, allowing it to fully cure before using it with food.
Raw flour that was not heat treated would not be safe. You would either need to: use a recipe that included a heat treatment step (such as adding the raw flour to boiling water) OR purchase flour that is safe to consume raw.
