White Oil Grades: Technical, Food (NSF HX-1) and Pharma (USP/NF) Explained

The three grade families

• Technical white oil — industrial use. Plastics, textiles, agricultural carriers, insecticide. No food or pharma contact.
• Food-grade white oil — FDA 21 CFR 172.878 / 178.3620(a) and NSF HX-1 registered. Incidental food contact, food machinery lubrication, bakery pan oils, food packaging.
• Pharmaceutical white oil — USP, NF and European Pharmacopoeia compliant. Direct human use — ointments, laxatives, cosmetics, baby oil, ophthalmic.

What 'highly refined' actually means

All white oils are produced by severe hydrogenation of base oil — driving out aromatics, sulphur, and any UV-absorbing molecules. The resulting product is water-white, has a Saybolt colour of +30, and contains no measurable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Pharma-grade goes further: UV absorbance, ash, sulphur compounds and heavy metals are all tested to monograph limits, with a Certificate of Analysis tying every batch to a manufacturer's lot.

Picking the viscosity

Sold in viscosity grades from V40 ≈ 7 cSt (light) through V40 ≈ 70 cSt (heavy). Light grades — baby oil, cosmetic carriers, plastics processing aids. Heavy grades — laxatives, food machinery lubrication, textile finishes.

The pharmacopoeia monographs (USP Mineral Oil and Light Mineral Oil) split the range into two named grades — confirm which one your formulation cites.

Documentation buyers should require

For food/pharma white oil: full CoA against the relevant monograph, kosher and halal certification if needed, residual solvents declaration, BSE/TSE statement, and a current FDA/NSF registration number for the manufacturer.

For technical grade: a simple CoA covering viscosity, flash, pour, colour and sulphur is usually sufficient.

Frequently asked questions

Is food-grade white oil the same as pharmaceutical white oil?

No. Food-grade meets FDA 21 CFR 172.878 / NSF HX-1 for incidental food contact. Pharmaceutical-grade additionally meets USP, NF and European Pharmacopoeia monographs for direct human use. Pharma grade is always food-safe; food grade is not always pharma-compliant.

Is white oil safe to ingest?

Pharmaceutical-grade white oil compliant with USP Mineral Oil or USP Light Mineral Oil monographs is used as an ingredient in laxatives, ointments and many cosmetics. Technical grade is not safe for human consumption.

What viscosity grades do you supply?

Sanyang Petroleum supplies white oil from V40 ≈ 7 cSt up to V40 ≈ 70 cSt, in 200 kg drums, 1,000 L IBC, ISO tank (22 MT), flexitank and bulk vessel parcels.