Selection of suitable lubricating oil for equipment

Hi all

Al lubricants that could possible come into contact with food should be food grade.

You can check for their NSF H1 status for incidental food contact.

 

Hi all

How to evaluate lubricating oil on equipment at risk of food contact. My company produces vegetable oil using some of the following equipment:

- pump to transfer oil

- agitators at storage tanks

- equipment with hydraulic shaft....

I am looking for a guide to assess the hazard and select the right lubricating oil for each piece of equipment.

 

You probably need a consultant to  evaluate yr process in respect to the likelihood of food contacting the lubricant. eg a technical representative of supplier of food safe (grade) lubricating oils, eg -

Food-grade or food-safe lubricant is the name given to any industrial lubricant that is considered safe for incidental contact with items that may be consumed by humans or animals, as long as it does not exceed a certain [specified] concentration . Items that require food-grade lubricants for production include: Food. Beverages.

(Google)

NSF categorizes lubricants based on the likelihood they will contact food using the original food-grade designations developed by the USDA: H1, H2 and H3.

• H3 lubricants, also known as soluble or edible oils, are used to clean and prevent rust on hooks, trolleys and similar equipment.
• H2 lubricants can be used in places where there is no possibility of contaminating the food. Because there is no risk of contamination, H2 lubricants don’t have a defined list of acceptable ingredients, but there ARE some substances it definitely cannot contain.
• H1 lubricants, however, are meant for food processing environments where there is some possibility of incidental food contact and their formulations may only be composed of one or more approved base stocks, additives, and thickeners.

For today’s food processor, knowing the difference between an H1 or an H2 lubricant is only half the battle. Selecting which is appropriate to use is not always a black & white decision. Starting in February 1998, the USDA implemented a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) program where manufacturers had to assess risk at each point in the operation where contamination might occur.

For example, a lubricant used on a conveyor system running over a food line must be H1 since the lubricant could theoretically drip onto the food; however, a conveyor system running underneath a food line may be fine with an H2 lubricant. The decision on which is appropriate to use under the food line must be carefully scrutinized on the likelihood that the lubricant may ever come in contact with the food. As such, many food processors have taken the approach to “always” use an H1 lubricant to remove all doubt.

https://www.sprayon....f-descriptions/

Most machinery manufacturers, especially those that make food processing equipment, will have a group of specified lubricants including food safe lubes. Call the manufacturer and ask them what they recommend. It also protects you from any warranty issues from not using their specified lubes.

 

Lubricants must be food grade, eg: NSF H1

 

you can check the certificate at https://www.nsf.org/...oducts-systems 

 

Hi George,

Thks for link.

TBH, "Food Grade" IMO is a (commercially) popular misnomer in this context, eg preferably refer as previous Post.