Food-safe or food-grade plastic are those deemed suitable for contact with consumable food and drink products. Whether it’s food manufacturing, packing, packaging, storage or transportation, it’s important to ensure the correct material is used to avoid any food contamination or safety hazards.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes and regulates the material guidelines for safe, direct contact with food. To receive FDA compliance, a material must be able to withstand the environment where it will be used, hold up to rigorous cleaning and sanitization (if applicable) and be compatible with the type of food or beverage it will contact without leaching harmful chemicals.

A variety of plastics have been approved by the FDA for food contact, and are commonly used in the food and beverage industry for packaging everyday items. While it’s always important to adhere to specific guidelines for material storage, temperature and recycling, some plastics are established as generally very safe for food contact including: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polycarbonate (PC).

If you’re considering a plastic product for food handling, and want to ensure that it is safe for your application, consult the product’s description on our website or in our Buyer’s Guide Catalog. You can also click the ‘Chat’ icon on your screen or call 800-456-5624 to speak with a product specialist for more information.