Food-safe

Food-safe materials are crucial for protecting consumers and complying with legal requirements. Their main advantages are:

• Safety: protection against contamination by harmful substances.

• Neutral taste: no effect on the taste, odour or colour of the food.

• Legal compliance: compliance with national and international regulations such as EU Regulation 1935/2004 or the FDA guidelines.

• Durability: longer storage times without chemical reactions between material and food.

Food-safe materials can consist of different substances. The following table gives an overview:

Material	Properties	Typical applications
Stainless steel	Corrosion-resistant, easy to clean	Cookware, work surfaces
Glass	Neutral in taste, chemically inert	Containers, bottles
Ceramics	Resistant to heat and chemicals	Tableware, bowls
Plastics (e.g. PE, PP)	Light, flexible, chemically resistant	Packaging, trays
Silicone	Heat-resistant, elastic	Baking moulds, seals

Food safety of materials is governed by national and international standards and regulations:

European Union

• Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004: governs materials that come into contact with food.

• Regulation (EU) No 10/2011: specific rules for plastics.

USA

• FDA guidelines: requirements for food-safe materials.

International standards

• ISO 22000: food safety management systems.

Food-safe materials are indispensable in many areas:

Food processing

• Machine components: conveyor systems, hoses and seals.

• Work surfaces: stainless steel surfaces for hygiene and safety.

Packaging industry

• Flexible packaging: plastic films and bags.

• Rigid packaging: jars, cans and trays.

Household goods

• Kitchen utensils: chopping boards, spoons and bowls.

• Baking and cooking accessories: baking moulds, silicone mats.

Medical and pharmaceutical industry

• Containers: packaging for food supplements and medicines.

• Hoses: food-safe silicone hoses for liquids.

Using food-safe materials offers numerous advantages:

• Consumer protection: minimised health risks.

• Hygiene: the materials are easy to clean and sterilise.

• Environmental friendliness: many materials such as glass and stainless steel are recyclable.

• Longevity: resistance to chemical and physical influences.

Although food-safe materials offer many advantages, there are also challenges:

• Costs: high-quality materials such as stainless steel or silicone are more expensive.

• Regulatory requirements: compliance with standards requires testing and certification.

• Sustainability: plastic-based materials can cause environmental problems.

The following table shows the differences between the most common food-safe materials:

Material	Heat resistance	Reusability	Costs
Stainless steel	High	Very high	Medium to high
Glass	Medium	High	Medium
Plastic	Low to medium	Medium	Low
Silicone	Very high	High	Medium to high

• How is food safety tested? Through specific tests for the migration of substances into food and verification of compliance with legal requirements.

• Which materials are considered food-safe? Materials such as stainless steel, glass, silicone and certain plastics (e.g. PE, PP).

• What is EU Regulation 1935/2004? A regulation that sets out the requirements for materials and articles that come into contact with food.

• Are food-safe materials recyclable? Yes, many of them, such as glass and stainless steel, are environmentally friendly and recyclable.

Food-safe materials are essential for safety and quality in food processing and packaging. They ensure that products meet the highest standards and protect consumers. By choosing suitable materials, companies can not only meet legal requirements but also offer sustainable, high-quality products.