5 replies to this topic

[mm.stf]

Hi guys,

 

I was recently reviewing our SDSs and found out that the lubricant oil used in the motors of our equipment is not food grade.

 

This oil does not come in contact with food products at any time, it only lubricates the motors that go outside our machinery.

 

I tried to find information about it, but didn't find anything specific on FSANZ. Should I have a food grade lubricant or because it does not come in contact with the product is fine to have it non-food grade?

 

I'm in Australia and we don't hold any GFSI certifications (we are only HACCP accredited).

 

Thank you

[Tony-C]

Hi mm.stf,

 

 

Welcome to the IFSQN forums

 

Best practice is normally to use food grade oil in equipment in open product areas where there is potential to contaminate the product.

 

Australian standards stipulate that ‘equipment should be located so that there is no likelihood that the lubricant will be in contact with the food’ - see below.

 

SAFE FOOD AUSTRALIA A Guide to the Food Safety Standards - Standard 3.2.3 – Food Premises and Equipment

 

12(2) Fixtures and fittings must be designed, constructed, located and installed, and equipment must be designed, constructed, located and, if necessary, installed, so that:

 

The following requirements are intended to prevent food contamination resulting from fixtures, fittings and equipment that are poorly designed, constructed, located or installed. The phrase ‘if necessary, installed’ recognises that some equipment used on the premises is moveable and not actually installed.

 

(a) there is no likelihood that they will cause food contamination;

Fixtures, fittings and equipment could potentially contaminate food from dripping/ spraying liquids, falling components, failure to cover food or transfer of built-up dirt or pathogens. The business must ensure all sources of likely contamination have been controlled. Some general examples are provided below.

• Equipment containing bearings and gears should be designed so that bearings cannot fall out and lubricant does not drip from the equipment. If some dripping is inevitable and could contaminate food, the equipment should be located so that there is no likelihood that the lubricant will be in contact with the food. Similarly, oils, solvents, release sprays (used to free equipment or stop squeaking) and other materials used in equipment or for maintenance should not leak from the equipment.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

[GMO]

Any site I've ever been in has a few non food grade lubricants.  If it's well away from or well below product contact areas then I'm fine with it as long as it's controlled.  Some lubricants for some uses don't have an effective food grade option.  

 

I'd risk assess, ensure there is separate storage and really good training and include as part of audits.  If you can source food grade you should of course and I'd task the engineers to look for an alternative at the same time.

[MDaleDDF]

I'm with Tony, everything here is food grade, other than a very few things that never enter production/go near open food.

[TimG]

I have no grease/lube that directly contacts my product or food contact areas; however, I still use food grade. If you do some research into food grade grease, you will see the H(1,2,3) still can't be in food in any significant amounts, but I believe it can't be comprised of known highly toxic or mutagenic components.

I would also suggest making sure whatever food grade lube/grease you go with, doesn't add an allergen. I think most of them now don't, but for a while 10+ years ago we had some soy based stuff which went bye bye when soybeans became one of the FDA's 'major' allergens.

[jfrey123]

Equipment design comes into play a bit when it comes to deciding whether fg lube is needed.  Ideally, yes, all lubricants in production equipment should be fg but there is a cost to consider for some companies.  But also ideally, no motors or gearboxes or chain drives or anything requiring lubrication should be above the food as it streams through your process.  Fg lubricants are still toxic if consumed, just maybe slightly less so with less long-term health consequences in small doses if not caught right away.  The other factor is that fg lubricants are going to be free from allergens or properly labeled if they contain, whereas your average hardware store oil might be made from something you won't know about until it's too late.

 

I've had to justify non-fg in equipment where the motors and gearboxes were below the product line.  Required us documenting that PM's and other maintenance would be done while no production was scheduled on that line, with full sanitation after any maintenance, all the good basic stuff.  But that was back in SQF edition 7, and I don't know if I could get away with it under edition 9 as 11.2.1.7 is pretty plainly stating all food contact equipment must have fg oils.