Greases and oils approved for contact with food

Lubrication requirements in food and beverage production are much more complex than those for traditional industrial lubricants.

The food and beverage processing industry and their selection and application of lubricants is critical to food safety as well as machine reliability. Lubricants must meet FDA and USDA requirements for the application and still meet the demanding performance requirements of the food industry.

Applications may require H1, H2 or 3H certification for lubricants. Often religious organizations, such as the Muslim and Jewish religions, may also influence the selection of lubricants based on beliefs.

NSF International is an independent, global organization dedicated to protecting and maintaining standards for food, water and consumer products.

NSF certifies standards that meet health-related classes of requirements for materials that come into contact with food, beverages or drinking water.

What does “food grade” mean for lubricants?

It is important that food and beverage production facilities use lubricants that do not contaminate or compromise their products.

How is the quality of food, water and consumer products regulated?

What does NSF 3H Certification mean?

3H lubricants are those that may come into direct contact with food, for example in a bread pan or on a conveyor. These are usually release agents (pharmaceutical grade white oils, silicone fluids)

What does NSF H1 Certification mean?

The next broadest level of lubricant food safety certification, NSF H1 lubricants provide suitable solutions for applications with “incidental, technically unavoidable contact with food products (up to 10 ppm)”. These H1 certified lubricants are odorless, tasteless and inert (non-reactive) and provide efficient lubrication without the risk of contamination.

What does "NSF H2 Certified" mean?

The next level down for NSF lubricants, but which cannot come into contact with food. Used to designate food-grade solutions for equipment that does not come into contact with food (forklifts, outdoor compressor systems, and other machinery). NSF H2 lubricants are highly refined and must be free of carcinogens, heavy metals, mutagens, mineral acids, and other harsh or hazardous chemicals.

What does NSF 51 and NSF 61 Certification mean?

Additional certifications may be required for materials used in food equipment such as plastics, pipes, seals, gaskets, valves (NSF ANSI 51) or drinking water systems (NSF ANSI 61) establishing minimum requirements for the health effects of chemical contaminants and pollutants that are indirectly transferred to drinking water from products, components, and materials used in drinking water systems.

Kosher, Pareve and Halal labels

often also influence the choice of lubricants.

Customer safety and quality are key to any business that produces or processes food or beverages. Food grade lubricants help ensure food performs safely.

The JAX Brand is worth recommending - American products for the food sector described in detail on our website dedicated to JAX.

JAX is an American company that has been a leader in food and beverage lubrication since the inception of true USDA food grade lubricants over 60 years ago.

JAX was the first company with a registered food grade lubricant at the birth of commercial food grade lubricants, offering new products for increasingly demanding applications.

Comparison of some other food grade greases and oils