Quick Guide – Types of Food Grade Lubricants

In the food industry, the quality and safety of products are extremely important. To guarantee these aspects in food production, it is essential to use food-grade industrial lubricants, registered with international organizations such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). In this article we will explore the different types of food-grade lubricants out there, as well as the alternatives that Interlub offers you to integrate them into your process.

Quick Facts

• 3H lubricants are for applications where there is direct contact with food.
• H1 lubricants are for applications where there may be contact with food.
• H2 lubricants are for applications where there is no contact with food.

What is a food-grade lubricant?

A food-grade lubricant is one that meets the regulatory requirements established by specialized international organizations such as the NSF. This certification guarantees that if these lubricants have contact with food, there will be no contamination.

There are different types of food-grade lubricants. The difference between one and the other depends on the possibility of them having contact with food during the industrial process.

Let's explore together what are the food-grade lubricants that exist, as well as the alternatives that we offer you to integrate them into your process. If you have used any of these products, please share your experience on our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts.

3H lubricants

These lubricants are specifically for equipment and surfaces in direct contact with food. They serve to prevent food from sticking to or adhering to such equipment and surfaces. Therefore, they must meet the most rigorous standards to ensure food safety. 3H lubricants are very common in baking and confectionery, for example.

Among the 3H lubricants Interlub offers for these applications, these are our bestsellers:

Bakery Release - 3H nonstick food-grade release agent with NSF 151579 registration for rings, trays, conveyor belts, and bakery and pastry molds. It improves the appearance of products and reduces lubricant waste and consumption by increasing the number of releases per application.

Candy Release -3H nonstick food-grade release agent with NSF 154720 registration for rings, trays, conveyor belts, and confectionery molds. It improves the appearance of products and reduces lubricant waste and consumption by increasing the number of releases per application.

Baking and confectionery are applications that commonly use 3H food-grade lubricants.

Do you need this type of solution for your food process? Contact us.

H1 lubricants

These lubricants are for applications where there is the possibility of incidental contact with food. Although minimizing contact with food is always a priority, it is technically impossible to avoid it in conveyor belts, chains, ovens, pelletizers, and other equipment close to food processing. For these cases, H1 lubricants are indispensable.

Among the H1 lubricants Interlub offers for these applications, these are our bestsellers:

Aliplex P 515 -H1 food-grade calcium sulfonate grease with NSF 157037 registration for the bearings of Rosal Mabrik and Van Aarsen cattle feed pelletizers. It is highly resistant to moisture and chemicals used in the food industry.

Cad Food HT 320 -Synthetic H1 food-grade, ester-based oil with NSF 156349 registration for lubricating oven chains in temperatures up to 230 °C. It is highly resistant to evaporation and leaves very little carbon residue.

Conveyor belts, chains, ovens, and pelletizers are applications that commonly use H1 food-grade lubricants.

Do you need this type of solution for your food process? Contact us.

H2 lubricants

These lubricants are for processing areas where there is no possibility of contact with food. Therefore, they are safe for use in food production environments. Although these lubricants are not food-grade per se, they must comply with FDA CFR 21 regulations.

Among the H2 lubricants Interlub offers for these applications, these are our bestsellers:

Interoil Cad Food -Biodegradable food-grade synthetic oil with NSF 129187 registration for mechanisms in temperatures up to 150 °C. It is suitable for spray, circulation, and drip application.

Cad P TF Spray -Food-grade synthetic PTFE oil with NSF 155842 registration for all types of chains, slides, guides, bearings, and other mechanisms in food production plants.

Chains, slides, and guides are applications that commonly use H2 food-grade lubricants.

Do you need this type of solution for your food process? Contact us.

Know your food grades

When you know the types of food-grade lubricants and what their uses are, choosing the ideal lubricant for your food production process is much easier.

Whether it's 3H, H1 or H2, we have the lubricants you need to ensure compliance with the quality and safety standards required by your food production.

Click the button below to speak to one of our lubrication experts and find your ideal product.

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