If you want to manufacture plastic food packaging, it is essential to know which plastics are fda approved plastics. Food-grade plastic resins are plastic resins approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for contact with food. They are known as Food Contact Substances (FCS). Below, MDE Plastics will share with you what is food-grade plastic? Which plastics are FDA compliant?
What is Food Grade Plastics?
“Food-grade plastics” is defined as food-safe plastic. The term refers to any plastic suitable for contact with consumable food or beverage products. Since some acidic foods or liquids can leach chemicals from the container, it is important to store them in proper containers.
The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act adopted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines food contact substances as substances used in food manufacturing, packaging, packaging, storage, and transportation applications that are not present in food materials Risk of technical effects. The “technical effects” referred to in this definition include leaching, which affects the taste of food and beverages and poses a potential risk to human health when the affected material is consumed.
Which plastics are FDA compliant?
FDA approved plastic High-density Polyethylene
HDPE is a common household plastic used to make drink bottles, butter containers, cereal box liners and thicker food storage tubs. Recycled HDPE is reviewed by the FDA on a case-by-case basis, as it can sometimes become unsafe during the recycling process.
FDA approved plastic Low-density Polyethylene
LDPE is similar to HDPE but tends to be less rigid, making it ideal for squeeze bottles or plastic films such as plastic wrap, six-pack rings, etc. It’s chemically resistant, repels microorganisms, and won’t leach harmful toxins when used to store food at a wide range of temperatures. However, in the recalled state, it is considered unsafe for food contact.
FDA approved plastic Polycarbonate
While there are concerns about the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate resins, the FDA has conducted extensive research and concluded that the intake of BPA from plastics is very low and has no significant negative health effects . There are also specific FDA-approved polycarbonate sheets available for a variety of food applications, from hospital trays to water bottles.
FDA approved plastic Polyethylene Terephthalate
Chances are any plastic jars and beverage containers in your home are made of PET. This material is used in 2-liter soda bottles, peanut butter jars, salad dressing containers, and more. While many plastics are only FDA compliant and food safe in their virgin (or unrecycled) state, recycled PET is an FDA-approved plastic for food contact. It also repels microorganisms and does not corrode, making it an overall ideal material for food and beverage contact and storage.
FDA approved plastic Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene is often used in single-serve containers like yogurt cups, but it’s also showing up in reusable containers that can store leftovers. In addition to being one of the FDA approved food contact materials, it is also microwave safe and non-volatile, which means it will not react with any type of food you store in it, be it acidic, alkaline or liquid.