GLOSSARY: CERTIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY

We already talked a few weeks ago about the very high safety standards used in the food and beverage industry, especially with regard to lubricants and detergents suitable for food contact (read more here).By now, even cardboard and bottle manufacturers are forced to use products that follow certain standards and have obtained the right certificates, such as NSF and ISO 21469.

There are a number of certifications recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative, such as BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and IFS; the National Sanitation Foundation, as the world leader, is in charge of determining the standards, the most stringent in the world, of products: they are the ones who assign the various seals and codes to production facilities, and to approved products, included in food and beverage production. Each code reveals where a product is to be used during the production process. It is therefore essential to know the various codes and certifications in the food industry to ensure that products are used at exactly the right time and place.

Examples of compatibility between industrial products used in the food industry

3H lubricants, for example, can come into direct and continuous contact with both food and packaging materials, while H1 lubricants are only approved for incidental contact. Detergents-but not disinfectant liquids-also have codes indicating where they are to be used. An A1 cleaner, for example, can be used as a general cleaner in a food area, while an A4 product can only be used to clean the floor. There are also other codes that should not be used in food areas, such as H2 and K1.

GLOSSARY – Certifications and Standards used in the food industry.

• H1

H1 lubricants are used when, under normal operating conditions, no contact or only incidental contact with food is expected

• H2

H2 lubricants are used on equipment in the food production process, where contact with food can be completely excluded

• H3

H3 lubricants are used as corrosion protection, e.g., for knives and hooks. As with H2, the possibility of food contact and contamination must be completely ruled out

• 3H

3H lubricants are used when direct and continuous contact between thelubricant and food products is unavoidable

• Food Grade

Food Grade describes the auxiliary and operational materials that are preferable for use in the food and beverage industry

• ISO21469

An internationally valid standard that considers hygiene requirements throughout the entire life cycle of an H1 lubricant, from formulation to production and application. The testing procedure is performed by theNSF (National Sanitation Foundation), and is considered the most rigorous certification for food-grade lubricants worldwide

• Kosher

Kosher-certified lubricants may be used in the production of food produced in accordance with Jewish dietary laws

• Halal

Lubricants with halal certification can be used in food production in compliance with Islamic food laws

• EHEDG

TheEuropean Hygienic Engineering Design Group is a cooperation between machinery manufacturers, the food industry, research institutes and authorities, which aims to promote food safety through improvements in hygienic technology and planning in all areas of food production

• HACCP

A quality tool designed to control food production according to hazard analysis and critical control points. This aims to prevent consumers from getting sick or injured in connection with food

• BRC

British Retail Consortium (BRC) Global Standard for Food Safety, according to which companies that handle and process food can be certified

• MOH

Hydrocarbons from mineral oils

• MOAH

Aromatic hydrocarbons from mineral oils

• MOSH

Saturated hydrocarbons from mineral oils

• POSH

Polyolefin oligomeric saturated hydrocarbons.

FUCHS Food Industry Products – Assurance in Quality and Safety

FUCHS lubricants are innovative, high-tech products that not only meet high safety standards but also offer the best technical performance. Taking their CASSIDA line of synthetic products as an example, these last three to four times longer than conventional mineral oil. Stability and durability are exceptional even at high temperatures, in the presence of water and under extreme pressures. Of course, these products can also be used in other industries besides Food & Beverage.

Need lubricants and cleaners for gearboxes, hydraulic systems, or compressors? We are here to help you navigate the seemingly complex world of food standards and NSF codes. We at UTR will review your food manufacturing processes and environments with you to best recommend the best product. Contact us here for more information.