Food-grade silicone is a material that comes into contact with food, attracting significant attention for its safety. However, many people find it difficult to differentiate between regular silicone and food-grade silicone. To help everyone better understand food-grade silicone, this article will provide detailed introductions from various aspects including definition, industry standards, characteristics, identification methods, and applications.
food grade silicone mold
1. Definition
Food-grade silicone is a type of silicone material deemed safe for contact with food and suitable for use in food-related applications. This silicone must pass tests, certified by specific agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), ensuring it does not release any toxic substances upon contact with food.
In RTV-2 silicone materials, food-grade silicone typically refers to platinum-cure silicone; however, not all platinum-cure silicones meet food-grade standards. Additionally, tin-cured silicone, an industrial grade silicone, is not recommended for food or medical applications due to residual tin (Sn) in the compound after curing.
food grade liquid silicone
2. Industry Standards
1. United States - FDA: Requires that food-grade silicone complies with FDA's 21CFR177.2600 standard, ensuring that no toxic substances are released at certain temperatures.
2. European Union - (EC) No. 1935/2004: Specifies the maximum limit of harmful substances that may migrate from food contact materials into food.
3. Germany - LFGB: Proves that the material does not contain any toxic substances that could be harmful to humans. The LFGB standard is highly recognized across Europe.
4. China - GB4806: Regulates the safety and applicability of food contact materials, ensuring they do not contaminate food.
3. Features
1. Food Certification: Passes food contact material safety certifications in their respective countries, such as the FDA, LFGB, etc.
2. Eco-Friendly: It is considered to be environmentally safe, as it is classified as harmless waste.
3. Non-toxic and Odorless: Made from standard-compliant platinum silicone, free from harmful additives (such as BPS, BPA, and BPF), and does not leach chemicals into food.
4. Temperature Resistance: Can withstand a temperature range from -50°C (-58°F) to 250°C (482°F), suitable for extreme temperature environments.
5. Stability: Chemically stable, does not harden, crack, become brittle, or rot over time.
4. How to Distinguish
1. Transparency: Food-grade silicone typically has higher transparency and can be made into clear silicone products, such as baby pacifiers.
2. Odor: Food-grade silicone is odorless, while regular silicone may have a noticeable smell and is prone to yellowing.
3. Softness: Food-grade silicone is softer and feels better to the touch.
4. Stretching/Folding: Food-grade silicone does not turn white when stretched or folded, unlike regular silicone, which is a clear distinction.
5. Burning: Unlike regular silicone, which leaves black ashes, food-grade silicone leaves white ashes when burned.
silicone that turns white at the folds
5. Applications
Food-grade silicone is used not only to make eco-friendly tableware and kitchen utensils that come into direct contact with food but also to create silicone molds for food, such as chocolate and candy molds. It's important to note that food-grade silicone is not the same as medical-grade silicone. Medical-grade silicone undergoes biocompatibility testing and has a higher purity level than food-grade silicone, making it widely used in products like menstrual cups, baby bottle nipples, and medical catheters.
By gaining a deep understanding of the characteristics and applications of food-grade silicone, we can choose and use these products with more confidence, ensuring the safety and health of our food.
