3 replies to this topic

[Quality elf]

In my one plant the maintenance department uses Petroleum Jelly and Silicone caulk on machinery. they also use mineral oil which is food grade and has the documentation to show it. I am trying to find documentation for the petroleum jelly and silicone caulk but cannot. I have contacted manufacturers who said they do not have that kind of documentation. I know at least the petroleum jelly is safe, it's the same thing you'd get at the pharmacy.

I searched the FDA's GRAS and couldnt find either.

Was I looking in the right place, is there another place to look?! I just need something official that says these two things are ok for use with food contact.

 

here are two site I looked but could not find PETROLEUM JELLY, or silicone caulk (I capitalized it bc they have other types of petroleum but not the jelly)

https://www.fda.gov/...s/ucm091048.htm

https://www.accessda...set=GRASNotices

 

 

[FurFarmandFork]

If the manufacturer isn't willing to say it's food grade, then I'd advise against using it as they may have additional additives/presservation ingredients that are potentially toxic or they have not assessed it as such.

 

That said, if yuo use it in places where it isn't likely to enter product or get onto food contact surfaces, you don't have to have exclusively food grade materials in your plant. There are plenty of brands for petroleum jelly and silicone sealants that do verify they're food grade (just google "food grade" with the type of material you want). Just get a different supplier.

 

An additional article about how FDA interprets "food grade" can be found here.

[SQFconsultant]

Just find the manufacturer name, look them up on the net and get their MSD sheets.

 

If you can't find them there, call them and ask for them and then add that you want the statement that their products are food safe.

 

Might not be, then go and find others that are.

[Scampi]

I would also suggest you ask the maintenance department why they are using those 2 items. From my experience both seem out of place on machinery at all......there could be a warranty issue where manufacturer has stated these must be used..........might also be laziness or habit

 

Silicone Caulking is for sealing things and petroleum jelly is generally not used on heavy duty machinery