Food-Grade Engineering Plastics — FDA, EU 10/2011 and Material Selection

In the food industry, material selection is not just an engineering question — it is also a regulatory one. The right material must meet both technical requirements and food safety regulations.

Regulatory Framework

EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 governs plastic food contact materials in the EU. The regulation defines permitted monomers, additives and migration limits. A material must not release harmful substances into food.

FDA 21 CFR (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) sets equivalent requirements in the United States. Many materials comply with both EU and FDA requirements.

In Finland and the EU, the applicable regulation is EU 10/2011, but FDA approval is useful for export products and international projects.

Food-Approved Materials

Material	FDA	EU 10/2011	Temperature	Typical Applications
PE-HD	✓	✓	–50...+80 °C	Cutting boards, conveyors
POM-C (acetal copolymer)	✓	✓	–40...+100 °C	Sprockets, guides, gears
PA (Nylon)	✓	✓	–40...+120 °C	Conveyor belt components, bearings
PET	✓	✓	–40...+80 °C	Packaging line components
PTFE	✓	✓	–200...+260 °C	Seals, coatings, sliding surfaces
PEEK	✓	✓	–60...+250 °C	Sterilization-resistant parts
PVDF	✓	✓	–30...+150 °C	Piping, valves

Material Selection Criteria

Temperature: Can the material withstand cleaning temperatures? In the food industry, washing is typically carried out at 60–85 °C, CIP (Clean-in-Place) may require up to 95 °C, and steam sterilization requires 121–134 °C.

Chemicals: Cleaning agents often contain strong alkalis (NaOH), acids (citric acid, nitric acid) and disinfectants (chlorine compounds). The material must withstand repeated exposure to these.

Wear resistance: On food production lines, components face constant wear. Conveyor parts, guides and cutting surfaces in particular require hard, wear-resistant materials.

Detectability: The food industry often uses blue or metal-detectable plastics. If a plastic fragment ends up on the production line, it must be detectable.

Best Materials by Application

Conveyor systems: PE-HD (slide guides), POM-C (sprockets, star wheels), PA (bearings, rollers). These materials combine wear resistance, low friction and food approval.

Seals and sliding surfaces: PTFE is the superior choice. It resists all cleaning and disinfection chemicals, does not stick to food and is FDA/EU approved.

High-temperature applications: PEEK withstands autoclave sterilization (134 °C) and repeated CIP wash cycles. It is the only plastic option for parts exposed to both high temperatures and aggressive cleaning agents.

Piping and valves: PVDF combines chemical resistance, purity and longevity in fluid handling systems.

Material Selection Checklist

1. Verify the material's EU 10/2011 and/or FDA compliance under your application conditions (temperature, contact time, food type).

2. Consider the impact of cleaning and disinfection chemicals — not just the food itself.

3. Evaluate mechanical wear and replacement intervals.

4. Determine whether detectable material is required.

5. Ensure material traceability and obtain certificates from the supplier.

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