Food-grade describes a material or product considered suitable for its intended use in contact with food under specified conditions.
“Food-grade” is commonly used to indicate that a material meets relevant requirements for a particular food-contact application. It does not necessarily mean that the material is chemically inert, suitable for every type of food, or appropriate at every temperature.
For example, a container may be suitable for storing food at room temperature but not necessarily designed for high-temperature cooking or microwave heating.
QUICK FACT
Food-grade does not mean “safe for every possible use.”
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Food-safe: a broader expression generally referring to safety when a material is used as intended.
- Food-contact material: identifies an article or material intended to contact food, without itself establishing that every possible use is safe.
SEE ALSO
