Correct Use of Food Grade Oil in Food & Beverage Compressed Air
What is Food Grade Oil?
In the food and beverage industry, there are a lot of misconceptions about Food Grade Oil and compressed air. Many believe that such oil is made from edible oils and is also biodegradable. Unfortunately, this is not true and may be putting food safety at risk.
Food Grade Oil is formulated according to US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21 Section 178.3570. This regulation gives guidance on ingredients allowed in lubricating oil by providing a specific list of chemical compounds and additives that are generally considered as safe for use with food.
So, the only difference between standard compressor oil and Food Grade Oil is that the Food Grade Oil only contains those chemical compounds and additives approved by the US FDA.
To help understand the correct use of Food Grade Oil, the US Food and Drug Administration categorised lubricating oil used in food and beverage applications into 3 distinct lubricant types:
- H1 - These lubricants can be used in applications where incidental food contact may potentially occur
- H2 - These lubricants can be used where there is absolutely no possibility of contact with food
- H3 - These lubricants can only contain edible oils where direct contact with food is likely to occur
Food Grade Oil falls into the H1 lubricant type and is considered safe to use in food and beverage applications where "incidental food contact may potentially occur."
Please note: The FDA does NOT consider Food Grade Oil as safe for direct food contact applications. In direct food contact applications, the US FDA allows only H3 type lubricants. H3 lubricants are not practical for use in oil-injected screw compressors as they can't withstand the high pressure, temperatures and friction loads generated in compression machinery. In these applications, the use of Class Zero, oil-free air compressors complies with US FDA guidelines for direct contact with food.
There is also a lot of misconceptions about the difference in compressed air applications involving direct food contact. General agreement is that compressed air that is exhausted into the local environment of food preparation, production, processing, packaging, or storage is indirect (or incidental) food contact. In many of these indirect food contact applications, the contaminated compressed air will contact food as a matter of course. When in doubt, it is best to assume direct food contact.
Direct or Indirect Food Contact? Can you guarantee that the food is not contaminated?
Despite very clear direction from US FDA about the use of lubricants in the Food and Beverage industry, there are many that promote the use of lubricated compressors with or without Food Grade Oil in direct food contact applications. Although guidelines from various associations and industry groups may be helpful, ultimately it is up to the decision makers in the Food and Beverage industry to be responsible for the outcomes in their facility.
In summary:
- Food Grade Oil used in air compressors is not food
- US FDA stipulates that H1 lubricants (Food Grade Oil) is used only in incidental food contact applications
- Food Grade Oil is NOT to be used in direct food contact applications
Atlas Copco provides effective food grade oil solutions for oil injected screw compressors, which can be used in food and beverage applications where there is indirect or incidental contact with food.
Atlas Copco recommends compressed air with Purity Class 1:3:0 to ISO 8573-1 for direct food contact applications (or for indirect food contact applications to be 100% safe). This air quality class provides the best protection against contamination from particles (including microorganisms), water (to ensure food hygiene safety) and zero risk of any oil contamination from the compressors. Our range of Class Zero, oil-free air compressors are safe, reliable and 100% risk free from oil contamination from the compressor as there is NO oil added to the compressed air ever.
To find out more, you're welcome to contact our food and bev compressed air specialist by calling us on 1800 023 469 or click the below button to fill out our contact form.
