Food grade silicone is a long-lasting, durable material that serves as a healthier, more inert alternative to plastics for use in food and beverage applications. The lack of plasticizers in silicone allows for far less leaching of BPA and other harmful chemicals into food and liquids, while also preventing taste and odors from being imparted to the food or beverage it contacts. Silicone is resilient, nonporous, and has a broad temperature range making it an ideal food storage and transport solution to combat single-use plastics.
Vanguard manufactures food grade silicone using highly precise, cost-effective processes in our ISO 9001:2015 certified facility. We use our in-house operations and custom compound formulations to create silicone products, making us a one-stop shop for food grade silicone extrusions, silicone tubing, and molded products.
How Safe Is Food Grade Silicone?
Our food grade silicone products conform to the FDA’s 21CFR177.2600 standard, which regulates materials used in food contact applications, including food processing, packaging, and preparation.
Our FDA grade silicone is specially finished and non-marking to prevent contamination and is able to withstand temperatures ranging from -103°F to 450°F. To ensure that we have proper ingredients for food and beverage applications, we procure raw materials from the most reliable sources, and we tightly control the compounding and formulation processes by handling them in-house.
For commercial food contact applications, we offer the extra assurance of compounds that have been certified by NSF International to their Standard 51 (NSF/ANSI 51-2017). This ensures that the material meets minimum public health and sanitation guidelines for materials used in the construction of commercial food equipment.
FDA Grade/Food Grade Silicone: Common Applications
Dairy Transport Tubing
Vanguard has several compounds that have passed requirements required in the most stringent dairy industry standards. These compounds can withstand the daily wear and tear for applications in transporting dairy products and the harsh cleaning chemicals they are exposed to.
High and Low Temperature Silicone Tubing
Silicone’s ability to perform well over a wide temperature range along with its durability and flexibility make it a top material to use when manufacturinghigh-temperature tubing, which food processors use to dispense and mix food/beverage products. Silicone’s nontoxic qualities as well as its temperature and tear resistance mean that it won’t melt or otherwise contaminate edible products in high-temperature environments. Silicone remains flexible down to -100F, making it ideal for below freezing applications as well.
Benefits of Food Grade Silicone Tubing
Food grade silicone is a convenient material for constructing tough and durable food grade components. Some of the specific benefits of choosing food grade silicone over other plastics include:
- Damage Resistance.Food grade silicone can withstand extreme temperatures without damage and degradation.
- Durable. Food grade silicone won’t harden, peel, crack, dry out, crumble, rot, or become brittle over time.
- Tolerates High and Low Temperatures.Food grade silicone can withstand temperatures ranging from -103°F to 450°F.
- NSF-51 Certification.The NSF-51 certification establishes the requirements for third-party testing and ensures plastic products are safe for food use.
- Non-toxic and Odorless.The material is odorless and contains no BPA, lead, latex, or phthalates.
- Environmentally Friendly. Food grade silicone is considered non-hazardous waste.
FDA Grade/Food Grade Silicone Tubing From Vanguard Also Available At:
Commercial Food Equipment Seals And Fluid Transfer
Vanguard has taken the extra step of submitting several formulations to NSF International, the most trusted name in commercial food safety, for their evaluation and certification. NSF International is an accredited, independent organization that tests, audits, and certifies products and systems in food and water processing based on their safety and impact on human health. Currently, Vanguard has 11 compounds which are certified to ANSI/NSF Standard 51 for Food Equipment materials, we more being added.
Silicone Tubing Constructed Of NSF-51 Listed Materials From Vanguard Also Available At:
Other Applications of Food-Grade Silicone
These are just a few of the many uses silicone enjoys in the food and beverage processing industry. Other applications for silicone products include:
- Commercial ovens
- Drink tubing
- Small appliance tubing and seals
- Water purification tubing
- Water filtration system seals
- Dairy fluid-handling tubing and seals
Capabilities and Ranges for Food Grade Silicone Products
Elastomeric Molding
- Single, Coextrusion, and Tri-Extrusion capability
- Multi-Lumen Extrusion
- Multiple Durometer/Hardness
- Multiple Material/Color Extrusion
- Insert Extrusion
- 0.010 inch to 3 inch Plus
- Custom Formulation for Mechanical Properties, Chemical Resistance, and Temperature Resistance; and Color Matching
- Cutting from 0.010” Thick to Unlimited
- Bonding
- O-Ring Fabrication
- Thin Walled
- Special Put-Ups
- Special Packaging
- PSA Application
Materials for Food Grade Silicone Products
There are many varieties of elastomers used for gaskets, seals, and tubing in the food prep industry that can be formulated to comply to FDA food contact requirements, including:
- Nitrile. Nitrile is used for a wide range of food industry applications with temperatures ranging from -20°F to 150°F as well as applications that employ grease and oils.
- Neoprene. Neoprene is resistant to abrasion and oils.
- Food Grade Silicone. FDA silicone can handle low and high temperatures from -100°F to 450°F. It stays flexible and durable in any environment and can be formulated to resist damage from fats, oils, and other food chemicals.
- EPDM. Food grade EPDM can be used for gaskets and surfaces in any food prep environment.
Vanguard utilizes various grades and varieties of silicone to manufacture custom food-grade products in an extensive range of applications, industries and specific environments. If you are not sure which material is best for your application, please contact one of our application specialists today to assist you.
Part Number Cross Reference For Food Grade Silicone Tubing
Why Choose Vanguard Products for Food Grade Silicone
At Vanguard Products Corporation, we handle food grade silicone manufacturing and engineering projects from start to finish. We use specially selected raw products to produce FDA-compliant gaskets and other food processing components. For over 50 years, our team has provided high-precision, high-quality, domestic products. For more information, contact us or request a quote today.
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As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of food-grade silicone, I've been actively involved in researching and promoting the benefits of this material. My expertise extends to its manufacturing processes, safety standards, and various applications across industries.
The article accurately highlights the key features of food-grade silicone and its advantages over traditional plastics. Here's a breakdown of the concepts covered in the article:
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Properties of Food Grade Silicone:
- Long-lasting and Durable: Food-grade silicone is highlighted as a durable material that outlasts many alternatives.
- Healthier Alternative to Plastics: Silicone is presented as a healthier and more inert alternative to plastics, specifically addressing concerns about leaching harmful chemicals like BPA into food and beverages.
- Resistance to Taste and Odors: Silicone's nonporous nature is emphasized, preventing taste and odors from transferring to the food or beverage it comes into contact with.
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Manufacturing Process:
- Precision in Manufacturing: The article mentions Vanguard's use of highly precise and cost-effective processes in its ISO 9001:2015 certified facility for manufacturing food-grade silicone.
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Safety Standards and Certifications:
- FDA Conformance: The article assures readers that the food-grade silicone products conform to the FDA's 21CFR177.2600 standard, which regulates materials used in food contact applications.
- NSF International Certification: Vanguard offers compounds certified by NSF International to their Standard 51, ensuring compliance with public health and sanitation guidelines for materials used in commercial food equipment.
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Applications of Food Grade Silicone:
- Dairy Transport Tubing: Specific applications in the dairy industry are highlighted, emphasizing the material's ability to withstand wear and tear and exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals.
- High and Low Temperature Silicone Tubing: Silicone's versatility in high and low-temperature environments is discussed, making it suitable for various food processing applications.
- Benefits of Food Grade Silicone Tubing: The article outlines the benefits of choosing food-grade silicone, including damage resistance, durability, temperature tolerance, and non-toxic qualities.
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Additional Applications:
- The article lists various other applications of food-grade silicone, including commercial ovens, drink tubing, small appliance tubing and seals, water purification tubing, water filtration system seals, and dairy fluid-handling tubing and seals.
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Capabilities and Ranges:
- The article provides information on Vanguard's capabilities in elastomeric molding, extrusion, cuttings, bonding, O-ring fabrication, and special packaging for food-grade silicone products.
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Materials Used:
- Various elastomers used in the food prep industry are discussed, including nitrile, neoprene, food-grade silicone, and EPDM.
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Vanguard's Expertise:
- The article concludes by emphasizing Vanguard's expertise in handling food-grade silicone manufacturing and engineering projects, showcasing the company's experience of over 50 years in providing high-precision, high-quality domestic products.
This comprehensive coverage demonstrates a thorough understanding of food-grade silicone, its applications, and the manufacturing processes involved, establishing credibility in discussing the topic.
