Food grade rubber and seals
Rubber and seals used in the food industry are in direct contact with the product, so they must be made from special food grade materials. Such materials must not release harmful chemicals, must not affect taste or odour, and must withstand cleaning processes.
What is food grade rubber?
Food grade rubber is an elastomer material free of migratable hazardous components that meets international food safety standards. These materials are widely used in the production of dairy, beverages, meat, bread and canned goods.
Key standards
- FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 — US standard for rubber in food contact
- EU 1935/2004 and EU 10/2011 — European food contact regulations
- 3-A Sanitary Standards — for dairy and beverage equipment
Which materials are suitable?
The most commonly used elastomers for food are:
- Silicone — high purity, wide temperature range (-60 °C to +200 °C), neutral taste. More: silicone rubber applications.
- EPDM — resistant to steam and boiling water sterilization, ideal for beverage systems. See: what is EPDM rubber.
- NBR (white food grade) — for contact with fatty food products.
Factors for the right choice
When selecting a seal you must consider the contact medium (water, oil, acid, alcohol), operating temperature, cleaning method (CIP/SIP) and certification requirements. The wrong material choice can lead both to product contamination and to premature seal wear. For general seal selection advice, see our seal selection guide.
Colour and traceability
Blue seals are frequently used in the food sector because blue does not occur naturally in food products, and metal-detectable variants are also available.
The NUR KAUÇUK approach
At NUR KAUÇUK we use certified raw materials for our food industry customers and confirm the quality of every batch through laboratory control. Our quality processes and production capabilities allow us to manufacture products that meet food safety requirements.
Review the products section for food grade rubber and seal solutions, and contact us to choose the right material for your project.