Food Grade: What Does It Mean? - Jacob UK

Food grade is a label that most of us see on regular basis. Some products proudly display their food-grade status, others prefer to hide the fact. But what does it mean? Why is it important and what are some food-grade materials?

In this article, we will try to shed some light on these questions and a few more.

What Does Food Grade Mean?

"Food-grade" is a term that describes the materials that are utilized in equipment that is used for the handling of food. To be classified as "food-grade," materials must be free of toxins and be suitable for human ingestion.

As a general rule though, food grade is a term used to describe products that are safe and suitable for human consumption. The term can also be used to describe products that are safe for use in food preparation areas of restaurants and other foodservice businesses.

This includes packaging materials as well as things like silverware, dishes used in restaurants, and even food-grade pipes through which food is manufactured and transferred.

However, the term "food grade" is solely used to describe the material of the equipment and does not imply that the equipment, as a whole, is safe for food. For example, aluminium foil is considered food grade, but you would never eat it.

Why Food Grade Is Important?

Toxicity and health concerns are the major issue when it comes to food-grade pipes and materials.

There are a few reasons to care about using food grades materials.

• Safety Concerns:

Equipment used in the production of food items needs to be food-grade because they come into close touch with the food. Toxic chemicals in the materials may seep into the exposed product, or in rare cases, they may transfer straight into the food to be ingested. These dangers can be avoided if food-grade equipment is used.

• Purity Concerns:

Manufacturing and packaging operations rely on food-grade pipes and materials. To preserve the product's ideal characteristics, high-quality food-grade components are essential. Purity standards are maintained by using food-grade packaging only.

What Does It Take to Be Considered Food Grade?

For something to be considered food grade, it must meet certain requirements:

1. The material must be non-toxic and corrosion-free.
2. The material must be able to withstand high temperatures without warping or melting.
3. The material must not allow rust or corrosion to form on the inside of the pipe over time.
4. The material must not leach out any chemicals into whatever substance/product is contained in the pipe.
5. The material must not give off toxic fumes when heated.

Commonly Recognized Food Grade Materials

Typical materials considered for use as food grade include metals, plastics, glass, and ceramics, although there are special considerations for some of these materials. For example, lead is not a metal you'd want to have in something that comes into contact with food.

Food-grade pipes and materials are designed to be strong enough to withstand the rigours of normal handling and storage, while still being chemically stable enough to not leach undesirable chemicals into the food they are handling.

Food Grade Stainless Steel:

Stainless steel is often found in kitchens, restaurants, bars, and hospitals. It is usually a sign of high quality and durability. Most manufacturing plants, food processing and packaging facilities that deal primarily with food items also use food-grade stainless steel in all their equipment for minimum contamination and easy sanitisation.

It is not enough that stainless steel is designated as "food grade" to assume that it is the most appropriate material for your manufacturing process. Food-grade stainless steel comes in a wide variety of forms, each with its unique compositions and qualities. The two most popular varieties are 304 and 316L.

Food-Grade Pipes:

Food-grade pipes are made from stainless steel that is specially designed to be safe for food handling. They are non-toxic and will not contaminate the product being shipped or transferred through them. Food-grade pipes can be used in locations where food products are stored or prepared, such as large manufacturing plants, storage, processing or packaging facilities, precisely because it is non-corrosive, has very high heat resistibility and does not react with chemicals or food.

Food grade piping is one of the most important components within the food processing industry. The piping system is usually made from stainless steel, glass, or polypropylene.

Take Away

The world of contaminants and chemicals can be a confusing one. To make sure you’re making the most of your money, and that you’re buying safe equipment for your food production or handling facility, become familiar with the most common food-grade pipes and materials that are legally allowed to be used on food packaging in your location.

With this knowledge, you’ll be able to recognize not only what these designations mean for your product, but also how to use them correctly in the future.

Jacob UK is the leading manufacturer and supplier of food-grade stainless steel pipes and accessories. All of our equipment is specially designed to meet the stringent regulations set out by the EC 1935/2204 as well as the FDA, and our extensive range includes everything from compensators and gaskets, segments and bends, diverters and pneumatic valves as well as blue seals.