No compromises: non-harmful lubricants for the food industry
Reading time: 5 Min. | 04.07.2024
Food safety takes top priority
And in no other area is it quite as important to use harmless lubricants than in food production. This is primarily the responsibility of producers and processors. Thankfully, help is on hand from Rhenus Lub, which ensures that everything is in order – even during the production of its specially developed lubricants.
Strictly controlled ingredients and comprehensive certification – the lubricants from Rhenus Lub that are used in machinery and systems for the food and feed industry meet the highest standards and are guaranteed to be harmless to health.
Strict requirements: H1 greases and H1 oils
H1 lubricants are used where there may be occasional and technically unavoidable contact with foodstuffs. To this end, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a positive list of approved ingredients, which is used by organisations such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) to check the food compatibility of lubricants.
Classification as an H1 lubricant means that only approved ingredients are used. This certification according to ISO 21469, the internationally recognised standard for the production of H1 lubricants, is currently the most comprehensive program for products of this kind. The standard ensures the implementation of clear hygiene requirements in formulation and manufacturing.
No to mineral oil constituents in foods
In view of various incidents in the past, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recently updated its recommendations on the topic of “Mineral oil components in foodstuffs” – one more reason for Rhenus Lub to take this problem very seriously and to offer its customers complete transparency. Effective immediately, the safety data sheets of H1 food-grade lubricants therefore include detailed information on the mineral oil hydrocarbons they contain, along with their respective maximum concentrations.
Compounds with a particularly critical evaluation, such as mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAHs) and polyolefin oligomeric saturated hydrocarbons (POSHs), are not contained in products from Rhenus Lub or are well below the detectable level at concentrations of less than 1 ppm. In terms of white oils, the company exclusively uses high-purity medical products that, although they are to be classified as mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSHs) by definition, pose no risk to health. Harmless base oils from the group of polyalphaolefin (PAO) compounds are also used as an alternative. The Mönchengladbach-based manufacturer makes this promise: H1 greases and oils from Rhenus Lub are unreservedly suitable for their intended use in the food industry.
Key benefits of special metalworking fluids for the food industry from Rhenus Lub:
- Safety: exclusive use of ingredients that are harmless to health
- Quality: compliance with all food regulations and international certifications (including kosher and halal approvals)
- Neutrality: flavourless and odourless lubricants with no impact on food quality
- Specialisation: development of lubricants with technical characteristics specially tailored to food industry requirements
- Versatility: wide-ranging applications in various machines – from the manufacture of pasta to the bottling of beverages