What Are the Dangers of Emu Oil?
Emu oil, obtained from the emu bird, is a byproduct processed from the fat of the bird. The fat is refined into oil through a series of steps that include sterilization and deodorization. The result is what is known as refined oil. By contrast, rendered or once-refined emu oil has not gone through the entire process and is merely filtered. This is where the dangers lie, with the lower grades of emu oil. There are many different methods of refining the oil as well, and each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Certain precautions must be used in order to make the oil safe for human use.
Contaminants
When emu oil has just gone through the first step in the refining process, there is a possibility of contamination. Fully refined oil has the peroxide and fatty acids removed, thereby removing other contaminants such as pesticides, arsenic, hormones, heavy metals and certain viruses. Because it's a physical process that isolates a substance from a living animal, there can be other contaminants such as blood, feathers, skin tissue or manure. Properly cleaning the fatty tissue during the extraction process is especially important.
Bacteria
When the oil is fully refined, the moisture content is kept below.10 percent. This is due to the fact that a higher moisture level tends to breed bacteria. Harmful bacteria that could possibly be present in once-refined emu oil include salmonella and E. coli. In order to kill the harmful bacteria, the oil must be processed at high temperatures. Ironically, after emu oil has been fully refined, it becomes an ideal carrier for anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-microbial topical medications.
Spoilage
Emu oil tends to spoil faster than other oils, partly because of the presence of heavy metals. The heavy metals, especially if they are not filtered out during the refining process, will cause rancidity in the finished oil. In order to make the oil fit for humans to use, either in beauty or health products, it is put through further refining processes. Crude emu oil goes rancid the quickest, while fully refined emu oil retains its freshness for about 1 to 1 1/2 years. However, the shelf life can be extended by either refrigerating the product or adding a natural preservative such as vitamin E.
Refining Methods
Emu oil are considered relatively new and borrow heavily from traditional oil refining processes. The general goal is to remove peroxides, harmful metals, bacteria and other particles. Refining with chemicals is perhaps the least desirable solution, because harsh substances such as lye tend to be toxic in themselves. Clay has been used as a natural alternative to chemicals. It is particularly used in the bleaching step to remove unwanted color in the oil, as well as any metals and peroxides that may still be present.
Emu Oil Trade Rules
Emu oil trade rules are a set of standards for refining emu oil, put in place by the American Oil Chemist Society and the AEA (American Emu Association). The objective is to inform consumers about what grade of oil they are purchasing and to establish the guidelines for each grade. The three grades are crude, once-refined and fully refined. Crude emu oil is only used for purposes such as animal feed and hot process soaps. Once-refined oil is used for industrial products, and fully refined oil is used for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements.
What to Look For
The dangers of emu oil only apply to the crude and once-refined grades. Also, the danger only exists if the oil is either ingested or rubbed into the skin. Fully refined emu oil is considered completely safe; however, consumers can look for certification such as the AEA certification, which means that the oil has met the stringent specifications of the Emu Oil Trade Rules. The rules are reviewed annually, and the grades are also updated due to technological advancements in the emu oil industry.
Tags: heavy metals, refining processes, contaminants such, crude once-refined, from bird, fully refined, fully refined