Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Fletcher on 06/05/2007 14:12:42

Title: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: Fletcher on 06/05/2007 14:12:42

I have a tub of vaseline that has a use by date of June 1995. I still use it as emergency lip balm, smells a bit but it hasnt killed me yet. Just curious as to how old it actualy is likely to be!!?

Title: Re: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: neilep on 06/05/2007 15:27:25

This is great question.....check this out...I asked the very same question a while ago...


http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=1366.0


Oh...WELCOME Fletcher

Title: Re: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: Karen W. on 06/05/2007 16:09:05

Welcome fletcher. That was my real fathers middle name.. Nice name! Have a great time in the forum..

Great link Neily! :) LOL

Title: Re: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: Seany on 06/05/2007 17:17:05

Yes.. A great link, side-tracking about semen tastes.. [:o] Yep.. Great link!

Welcome Fletcher! LOL!

Title: Re: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: JimBob on 06/05/2007 20:08:11

I have a jar of this stuff that is dated to be used before 7/90. I like bargains and the largest jar was a good buy! I still use the stuff from it. 

I know that the oil it is made from is micro-crystalline petroleum. It is a nuisance in some oil wells as the content of the oil produced from the wells contain a high amount of the petrolatums (not petroleum), which are homogeneous mixtures of oily and waxy long-chain, non-polar hydrocarbons, that gum up the well bore. These hydrocarbons are solids at surface (of the earth) temperatures. I do not remember the number of times I have had to call a service company to flush out this junk from a well bore. High content of these petrolatums in oil lessens the price for which one can sell the oil.

In the last few years some health concerns have been raised about petrolatum jelly. There is a link below. I am skeptical about all of this as anything that is not made or found in the human body will cause cancer if taken in large enough amounts.

http://www.health-report.co.uk/petroleum_petrolatum_health_concerns.htm

Title: Re: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: Seany on 06/05/2007 22:54:20

Oh geez.. Its like 20 years old!!... Hope it doesn't have any long-term bad effects..

Title: Re: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: JimBob on 06/05/2007 23:17:31

Not so far, Seany. But then, I have had cancer, so who knows?

The Geezer is ALIVE, ALIVE I say.   [xx(]

Title: Re: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: Seany on 06/05/2007 23:29:26

Hmm.. I hope the cancer worked out OK. Seeing you said "had", I'm relieved to hear it. [;)]

Title: Re: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: JimBob on 06/05/2007 23:54:05

Thank you for your well wishes. You are an exceptionally bright young man and I can only encourage you to keep going.

The cancer, if it exists, is at a level where it cannot be detected and has been for 3 years. Five years is the time given for a "cure." We don't get out of this world alive!

Title: Re: What does the "best before date" mean on a tub of Vaseline?
Post by: Bored chemist on 07/05/2007 15:50:50

Refined petrolatum of the sort used in cosmetics ought to meet the legal requirements (essentially that the PAH content is less than a part in 2 billion)*. Of course you can't do much about rogue traders; but the bleaching processes that remove the tarry colour and smell will also remove the PAHs.
* data from here.
http://www.petroleumhpv.org/Product_Categories/Waxes/testplan_waxes_finalrevised_032703.pdf