MOLYKOTE® Lubricants for Food Manufacturing

What Are Food-Safe Lubricants & Why Are They Important?

---

Food-safe or food-grade lubricants provide peace of mind for sensitive manufacturing applications as they are formulated with base oils and performance additives that do not contain potentially harmful or toxic chemistries. Without these industry limits, manufactured food can be exposed to contamination and other food safety violations that can result in health hazards (Moon, 2007). A few standards are set by associations like the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that measure and test the potential reactivity concerns between lubricants and food processing equipment to ensure and protect the greater public health.

21 CFR 178.3570
The U.S. FDA has a registration that outlines acceptable limits for lubricants in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Section 178.3570, commonly referenced as 21 CFR 178.3570 on labels and product documentation. To meet this regulation, the lubricant must be odorless, colorless, and tasteless and meet strict formulation guidelines across a range of accepted chemistries.

21 CFR 175.300
Another regulation from the U.S. FDA is Title 21 Section 175.300, also listed as 21 CFR 175.300 on product labels and documentation. This article outlines the proper expectations for coatings (resinous and polymeric) applied to surfaces that handle, process, package, or transport food materials.

NSF H1
This certification reflects the level of safety involved in applications where there is a high likelihood of direct contact with the food or beverage itself. NSF H1 certification is commonly referenced as suitable for incidental food contact without concern of contaminating or adversely affecting the product.

NSF H2
This certification level reflects products that are not food grade but are acceptable for use on equipment with zero potential for incidental food contact. NSF H2 certification is commonly used in closed systems or supporting infrastructure far from the final food product.

NSF 51 and NSF 61
These certifications relate to approving a material’s safe use in water-handling systems and potable water applications. NSF 51 relates to the pipes, fittings, solder, flux, and fittings, whereas NSF 61 reflects an approval for potable water systems for public use and consumption.

Which MOLYKOTE® Lubricants Are Safe for Use in Food & Beverage Manufacturing?

---

Why Should I Use a MOLYKOTE® Food-Grade Lubricant?

---

MOLYKOTE® performance lubricants are well known for their longevity, protection, and reliability. This established track record is reflected across their food-grade materials with an added layer of compliance and safety required by the food and beverage industries.
 
These greases, oils, pastes, and more allow your equipment to operate at peak efficiency, reducing wear from friction and extending the operational life of the system. The DuPont team takes food safety seriously and ensures that the production of these materials exceeds the requirements in place to keep production safe and efficient.

Citations 

Moon, Mary (2007). “How clean are your lubricants?” Trends in Food Science and Technology, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TIFS.2006.11.002