Did you know that boric acid may be found in some recipes for homemade playdough, putty, slime and modelling clay?
Found naturally in the environment, boric acid can also be used in common consumer products like toys, cosmetics, cleaning products and pesticides.
Although natural sources of boric acid in food are considered safe, Health Canada recommends reducing exposure from other sources to avoid overexposure — especially for children and pregnant women, as it can cause developmental and reproductive health effects.
The concern related to boric acid is one of overall exposure rather than an immediate risk, but you can make playing with goo and slime safer for your little ones with this recipe for homemade dough.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup flour
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in saucepan on low heat. When dough looks like mashed potatoes and pulls away from the sides, remove from heat. If dough is sticky, keep cooking until dry.
- Wait until dough becomes cool enough to touch and knead until smooth.
Store at room temperature in an airtight container or resealable bag.
Tip: If dough starts to dry out, knead in some water to soften.
You can find more information online at Canada.ca/health.