I hope it's not too late to write here, but woke up this morning very worried, and came across this about sealers. I just had my marble island countertop installed yesterday and the fabricator sealed it 3 times. Once at the shop and twice at installation, an hour apart. He is from Ecuador and barely speaks English. He used something I've never heard of. I saw the name on it. It said "Adria Protection" it was made in Italy. It doesn't come up in Google, so I'm worried if it's safe for putting food on? I like using natural products and now this has me worried. It had a very strong smell...I had to open every door and window while he applied it. When I first shopped for Marble everyone I first talked to said "You don't want marble in a kitchen, etc., but when I met this guy and said I wanted marble, he didn't blink an eye, just said he would seal it and that I would never have any problems. The sealer did slightly change the background color of the marble (maybe like a polish would?), but I'm worried about food safety. I am wishing that I didn't have him seal it. (He said that he wouldn't if I didn't want it.) Do all of the sealers smell strong. Does anyone have an opinion about this for me?

Your marble backsplash is so gorgeous. Still wish I could have found a way to sneak a bit of marble into my kitchen. It's truly beautiful. I too almost did madre perla--I love the softness of it. The wall color is so nice!!! Are the subway off white or white?

An enhancing sealer, as referenced in the Stonecuttersguild.com article you posted, can change the color of the marble. Penetrating sealers should not change the color of the marble. When I (extensively) researched marble & sealers, a couple of years ago, I also never came across mineral oil.

All the marble I've had installed was sealed (and with the product of my choice). Whether that was priced as an extra or not, it was understood to be necessary and included. Marble is going to show some age, but a top notch modern sealer (I recommend Drytreat Stain Proof Plus, which is a piece of cake to use yourself) will inhibit staining for sure. Any chips, white impact marks, etching blends into the (typically busy) stone over time. I used Caesartone in one application (not a look alike) and it certainly isn't bulletproof to chips and other issues ... for the pure beauty side of things, just no comparison whatsoever to real marble ... disagree with Sophie's "know what you're getting into ... and once you do, you'll likely make another choice" words of wisdom. My fear with marble is rust bleed leaching out and generating orange spots on the stone. It's why I have avoided the use of marble in the shower where it's chronically wet. Not sure on the stacking stuff, but marble is pretty soft ... any good fabricator/tile installer can do anything with it (e.g. bullnose) without struggle. I'd pick up some Drytreat/Akemi/Bulletproof and do the sealing yourself ... very simple.