Using paraffin is now considered unsafe, it is said to encourage the growth of mold which is sometimes safe to scrape off (we always used to) but now has been proven to occasionally, create a toxin that is dangerous to people.  It's my understanding that the mold doesn't always, (or even often) grow while the wax is in place, but the wax 'sets up' the growth for after it's opened.

It's true that many practices our mothers and grandmothers did may not have killed them, or any of us who grew up eating their food, after all we ARE here and talking to each other right?  Thing is, we don't actually know how many of past generations got sick and even possibly died from botulism, or from those mycotoxins that flourished from the paraffin sealing practice.  Modern testing has shown the dangers, and no matter how rare they may be, I'm not at all willing to take the risks with my family's health.  Not when we know safer methods and not when the risks really are pretty darn easy to avoid!  (actually I remember the wax being a real PITA to do too!)  Pete’s right, just stick to the basics of BWB and pressure canning, which are pretty straightforward and it’s really much easier in the long run!

Now that we know better, we can do better.  People who are convinced that whatever they are doing is safe aren’t gong to change, but out of concern for our friends here, we do NOT sanction anything that is not sanctioned by the The National Center for Home Food Preservation, the USDA and accepted as safe.  We don't censor people here, but we do ask that they also stay within accepted safe canning and food handling guidelines since there is just too much chance for disaster otherwise.  Yep Pete, you’re so right, much better safe than sorry.

I sure didn't think you were advocating it Klabmom, no worries!  I was just explaining how we always try to steer the conversation to the safe info whenever things pop up here, and thanks for re-posting that link Ross, I meant to but I got distracted. 

I guess I was trying to say that anyone here who tried to post info would have met up with a pretty solid wall of what we've already said here and THEN some!  LOL  Like I said, we don't actually censor much stuff, but we'd take it on as a serious teaching moment!

People like that person just wouldn't want to hear what we have to say.  I hope she and her loved ones stay well and never have any problems.  For myself, I'll keep following the safest methods I can.  (Pun intended! )

It's pretty funny that your Grandmother taught you the safer methods but your Mom still does the less safe methods!  My family all BWB'd green beans too and I'm still here to talk about it, but I wouldn't do it that way anymore.  (I'm a bit older than your mom, hehe)

Yeah, I went back and read her 'justifications' for why she uses this method and doesn't believe any of the hard won wisdom to be had from the various extension offices and test kitchens.  wow.