Is your lubricating oil food-grade?
If you are responsible for production (or purchasing) in the food industry, you know how crucial it is to meet strict food safety requirements. Everything in the production chain, from raw materials to finished products, must comply with stringent legal requirements.
Unfortunately, many forget to consider lubricating oil as an important component in the production process. That can be costly, and in the worst case it can lead to food recalls if accidental contamination occurs.
So how do you make sure you are using the right lubricating oils, and how do you know whether they meet the requirements for food contact in your production?
You will find a number of answers in this article.
What is food-grade lubricating oil?
Before we go any further, it is important to understand what we mean when we talk about food-grade lubricating oils. There are no lubricating oils that carry a specific food industry stamp. But there are lubricating oils that have been developed for environments where incidental contact with food may occur.
These oils are designed to provide excellent lubricity and wear protection while being safe in the event of incidental food contact. Of course, the lubricating oil is not meant to come into contact with food.
But if it does happen (unintentionally), there are a number of lubricating oils that comply with strict regulations such as NSF H1 registration. This registration means that the lubricating oil is safe in the event of incidental contact with food in small quantities.
Include lubricants in your HACCP plan
To ensure full food safety, you need to include lubricants in your HACCP plan (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points). This requires you to analyse the production process and to know exactly where there is a risk of contact between lubricants and food.
Once you know the risk points, you know where in your production you need food-grade lubricating oils. This helps you to minimise the risk of contaminating your food products.
Which lubricating oils should you choose for food production?
When choosing lubricating oil for food production, it is first and foremost about choosing a product that meets the legal food safety requirements. But it is also about ensuring efficiency and safety throughout the entire production process.
To achieve this, it is important that, in addition to NSF H1 registration, you also consider factors such as operating conditions, the age and load of the equipment, and the frequency of wash cycles.
In addition, correct lubrication can minimise the risk of corrosion and wear, which can lead to costly repairs and replacement of equipment.
Uno-X: your partner in food safety
At Uno-X, we specialise in the food industry, and we understand that lubricating oil may not be at the top of your agenda. Nevertheless, it is important to keep track of the applicable registrations, so your production meets all legal requirements and standards.
We are happy to help you choose the right lubricating oils to keep your production running smoothly. So you can focus on what matters most: producing safe, high-quality food for consumers.