Are there any hand lotions that are approved for food-contact?

I work for a plant that produces food packaging materials.  We are pursuing SQF Level 2 certification.

We have employees who are experiencing dry and cracked skin on their hands.  We don't require gloves if the wash their hands appropriately.

Are there any hand lotions that are food-contact?  If not, would it be OK to use an unscented hand lotion?

I do not know of any lotions that are approved for food contact.  I would think, that maybe gloves would help keep the hands from drying out. Depending on your packaging, I would think might smear with lotions.

Setanta

Try Deb Oxybac.

It will probably be exactly what you need. It's designed for regular use throughout the day, especially for people with sensitive skin. It also doesn't have any scents added so won't taint food.

Cheers,

Shane

NSF International updates and publishes a review of Non-Food Compounds in their White Book™ - Nonfood Compounds Listing Directory found at:

http://info.nsf.org/USDA/psnclistings.asp

Hand Care Products

E1

Handwashing products

E2

Handwashing and sanitizing products

E3

Hand sanitizing products

E4

Hand lotions/cleaners – nonfood contact

EX

Ingredients for use in Hand Care Products

No lotions are approved for contact with food.  Support the use of acceptable food contact gloves.

Hi there,

We had a similar problem, though our operatives do wear gloves when in production. We installed dispensers in the changing rooms and canteen, pre and post hand washing, filled with an unscented hand conditioner. Works really well and even the guys use it.

Most lotions are oil in water emulsions, with bunch of additives.  Maybe skip the water, emulsifiers, and additives and use a low odor food grade oil like canola?  Use a paper towel to blot up any excess.

We had the same issue in our food contact packaging company. The solution we found was Flora free skin conditioner. I think it may be manufactured by Deb. It has no odour and isn't too greasy. The staff were told to use one squirt after hand washing, rub it in well and this appeared to work as no smudgy finger marks were left on the plastic formings.

Dear CMHeywood,

I assume yr packaging is food contactable.

i sympathise but  suspect  that post #4 says it all unless some one can produce an example(s) of opposing official pronouncement.

I would intuitively disbelieve the legitimacy of any such offered commercial product unless it came with  validatable  approval documentation. 

Have previously encountered some buyer criticisms regarding use of well-known brands of handcleaning products with the typical, popular, antibacterial additives.

Have also, but fortunately very rarely,  implemented  post #4 when some employees found the skin of certain fish to be "allergenic" to their skin but the additional control factors were a real headache.

I guess this potentially falls into the same area as thickly pasted face lotions et al which has come up previously ?

Rgds / Charles.C

Hi, CMHeywood;

Here is another thread on the topic: http://www.ifsqn.com...-food-industry/

Lotion-up after the shift.  If it's high risk operations then monitor the condition for the treatment.  As mentioned, glove use is preventative pro/reactive.

Hello, 

R&R lotion manufactures an E3 sanitizer formulated as a hand lotion that is alcohol free using the active ingredient Benzalkonium Chloride that kills 99.99% of germs that cause foodborne illnesses. They also offer E4 remoisturizing hand lotions that are fragranced and fragranced free.