If you’re looking to purchase components which are likely to come into contact with food, it’s essential to use FDA approved products. The FDA defines products requiring approval as:
“any substance that is intended for use as a component of materials used in manufacturing, packing, packaging, transporting, or holding food.”
By assuring FDA compliance, you can be confident that the materials are safe for direct food content. This means they will not contaminate food products or cause a danger to the end consumer of the food items.
In general, this means that they will:
- Be odourless, tasteless and resistant to bacteria
- Be safe to use with food, beverage, meat, milk and certain food compliant chemicals
- Non-toxic, non-marking and non-allergenic
In addition to ensuring the product you choose is FDA approved, other attributes must be suitable for the application. This means ensuring that the material is safe to use:
- Within the temperature you plan to work
- Safe for the type of food it is in contact with (fats, acidity etc.)
- Robust enough for the environment in which it will be used
There are many types of FDA approved elastomer and rubber products. We’ve chosen four of the best ones for use in the food industry to help you narrow down your choices.
- Fluorocarbon
Known more commonly by its trade name of Viton™, fluorocarbons or FKM are high performance FDA approved silicone materials. They cope well with high temperatures, are chemically resistance and do not absorb water. The scope of their working temperature ranges from -20°C to 204°C, although compounds can be made which function from -45°C to 250°C.
- Silicone
The low toxicity and low chemical reactivity makes FDA approved silicone one of the best choices for food grade rubber. Silicone O-rings and silicone rubbers of food grade standard have one of the broadest operating scope ranges out there, of -60°C to 300°C. FDA approved silicone will not contaminate food and is one of the best materials for cooking tools, insulation, sealants and lubricants.
- Nitrile (NBR)
As a highly economical material to purchase, nitrile is one of the most widely used elastomers for seals in the food processing industry. It has excellent resistance to oils and fuels and is robust and abrasion resistant. Standard compounds have an operating temperature range of -40°C to 140°C.
- EPDM
For EPDM food grade products offer excellent flexibility and robustness. The EPDM food grade compounds are tasteless and odourless and are suitable for a wide range of uses within their temperature range. Normal operating temperatures for this material fall within -40°C to 140°C, making it a popular choice for food processing applications.
FAQs
The most popular rubber materials used for FDA purposes are Nitrile, Neoprene, Silicone and EPDM.
What is the best food grade rubber? ›
Whilst there are many rubber materials that meet strict FDA guidelines, we would argue that the following five materials are the best food-grade rubber materials:
- Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM)
- Fluorocarbon.
- Neoprene.
- Nitrile.
- Silicone.
- Viton.
The most durable, strong, and heat-resistant rubber material is typically Silicone rubber. Here's why: Durability:Silicone rubber is known for its exceptional durability.
Is EPDM material FDA approved? ›
White FDA approved EPDM rubber is typically used for general gaskets commonly used in food processing operations. BRP's white FDA approved EPDM rubber complies with all of the FDA standards set forth by CFR 177.2600 Title 21. To ensure the highest safety, the FDA sets strict standards for the food processing industry.
What is FDA rubber? ›
These products meet the 21 CFR 177.2600 FDA regulation that deals with rubber articles intended for repeated food exposure. Our FDA products may be safely used in producing, manufacturing, packing, processing, preparing, treating, packaging, transporting, or holding food.
What is medical grade rubber? ›
Medical rubber, for the most part, consists of rubber compounds that pass a series of biocompatibility tests. Typically, the terms USP Class VI or ISO 10993 materials are used. Unlike other rubber standards, there's no one standard that engineers use for an approval.
What is world number 1 rubber? ›
Largest Rubber Producing Country in the World – Thailand
Thailand is the biggest producer of rubber globally, making up 36% of all the rubber produced worldwide.
What is the highest quality of rubber? ›
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber is a synthetic rubber that exhibits excellent durability, resisting damage and degradation from extreme temperatures and weather conditions.
What rubber is food safe? ›
The three rubber most popular food-grade rubber materials – Neoprene, EPDM, and Nitrile – have many characteristics in common; they are all recommended for repeated food contact, are manufactured with non-toxic and non-allergenic materials, and each is compliant with FDA guidelines.
What rubber lasts the longest? ›
Silicone tends to last much longer than other rubber materials and can be stored for up to 20 years. The standard shelf life of rubber materials is shown in the table below.
Versatile and highly durable, silicone rubber is used to make a wide variety of consumer products. It is resistant to both high and low temperatures, remaining flexible even in extreme conditions.
What is the best tear resistant rubber? ›
Polyurethane rubber is strong, durable, and abrasion-resistant. With exceptional tensile strength and tear resistance, polyurethane rubber sheets and strips are used in applications that require shock absorption and tear resistance such as conveyor belts, cutting surfaces, and liners.
Is black nitrile rubber food safe? ›
FDA Nitrile (Buna-N) Rubber
It typically comes in white or black and can hold up to temperatures between -40° F and 212° F. It can also handle discharge and suction for food and dairy applications.
Is Viton rubber food safe? ›
White food safe quality Viton® rubber sheeting is FDA approved and is resistant to chlorinated hydrocarbons, fuels, acids and heat. It is is not suitable for ketones such as acetone and organic acids.
Is black EPDM rubber food grade? ›
Food Contact Compliancy
hereby declares that below mentioned list (1) of EPDM rubbers comply with the following regulations (2) for repetitive contact with food and foodstuffs. EPDM rubbers (1): EPDM Antistatic Black FDA 2mm. EPDM Antistatic Black FDA 3mm.
Is natural rubber FDA approved? ›
Food grade rubber is a specially certified grade of rubber approved for use in food manufacturing and packaging. Aquaseal Rubber uses silicone, natural rubber, nitrile, neoprene and polyurethane rubber for food grade rubber products.
What kind of rubber is food safe? ›
The three rubber most popular food-grade rubber materials – Neoprene, EPDM, and Nitrile – have many characteristics in common; they are all recommended for repeated food contact, are manufactured with non-toxic and non-allergenic materials, and each is compliant with FDA guidelines.
Is Viton rubber FDA approved? ›
FKM / VITON RUBBER WHITE FDA COMPLIANT White food quality Viton® rubber sheeting is FDA approved and is resistant to chlorinated hydrocarbons, fuels, acids and heat.
Is silicone rubber FDA compliant? ›
As an FDA approved rubber, silicone also has great chemical resistance to many common chemicals and oils that are used in areas where consumables may be handled or prepared.
If you’re looking to purchase components which are likely to come into contact with food, it’s essential to use FDA approved products. The FDA defines products requiring approval as: