Lubricants in food processing technology

Minute impurities – major effects

Reliable lubrication of moving components or assemblies is also required in food processing technology. However, consumers should not be confronted with lubricant residues in foods. Therefore, even minute impurities of a few ppm (parts per million) are sufficient to shut down the entire production or stop the delivery of goods.

An example calculation shows: Just a millilitre of a lubricant which is not approved is sufficient to ban a production batch of 2000 packaging units of 500 each from the shop shelves.

Manufacturers of foodstuffs bear the responsibility

Lubricants are also indispensible in the production of foods. A competent lubricant supplier must therefore be familiar not only with the operating resources of the foodstuff producer but also with the hygiene requirements. Ultimately everyone involved in this production chain is responsible for the purity:

• producers of foodstuffs
• manufacturers of special lubricants for food processing technology
• manufacturers of machines for food processing technology
• further processing of foodstuffs

The framework for the use of lubricants in food processing technology is provided by a whole row and laws and standards. Some of the most important laws / standards:

• Directive (EC) No. 852/2004 defines the HACCP-Konzept (HACCP Concept) and prescribes its implementation.
• Positive list of ingredients of lubricants approved for use in food processing 21 CFR 178.3570
• National Sanitary Foundation with the registration in the following categories:
  • NSF H1: lubricants where product contact cannot be excluded technically
  • NSF H2: lubricants where product contact can be excluded technically
  • NSF A1: cleaners for field of foodstuffs
  • NSF K1 and K3: Intensive cleaner and adhesive remover for use in the food processing industry

Technical requirements for lubricants in food processing technology

Additional requirements for food processing lubricants are derived from the above-mentioned laws and regulations:

• odourless
• tasteless
• physiologically harmless
• resistance against special disinfectants and cleaning agents
• alimentarity

In the case of industrial lubricants there are hardly any limitations in the selection of raw materials. In foodstuff lubricants, however, many raw materials are not approved in the field of additives. Tailored products are therefore available for very special applications in particular in the case of requirements regarding high-pressure properties and corrosion protection.

With OKS speciality lubricants you're on the safe side

OKS uses the American laws and regulations that are recognized worldwide for its products for use in food processing. By using OKS speciality lubricants for food processing technology, you as a manufacturer ensure compliance with national and international regulations.

Our Technischer Service (Technical Service) will be pleased to advise you in selecting OKS lubricants suitable for your purposes.
We would be pleased to meet you during the Anuga FoodTec Fair, Hall 4.2 Stand B031.

Standards concerning the use of lubricants in food processing technology

Scope of validity	Law / regulation / standard	Content	Further information
International	ISO 21469	Hygiene requirements for the formulation, production, use of lubricants that can come into unforeseeable product contact	Extension to foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobaccos and animal food
European Union	Directive (EC) Nr. 178/2002	Basic directive on food law, European authority for foodstuff safety, specification of processes for foodstuff safety
European Union	Directive (EC) Nr. 852/2004	General hygiene regulations	Contains HACCP concept
European Union	Directive (EC) Nr. 853/2004	Special hygiene regulations for foodstuffs of animal origin
Germany	LMHV	Regulations on foodstuff hygiene
Germany	LFGB	Lebensmittel-, Bedarfsgegenstände- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch ("German Foodstuffs and Essential Commodities Act")	"Consumer protection" "From the acre to the plate"
USA (International)	FDA 21 CFR 178.3570	Positive list for the ingredients of lubricants approved for use in food processing
USA (International)	NSF H1 Certification	For lubricants when contact with food cannot be excluded technically
USA (International)	NSF H2 Certification	For lubricants when contact with food is excluded technically
USA (International)	NSF K1 Certification	for use as a cleaner and degreaser outside production areas in the food processing industry
USA (International)	NSF K3 Certification	for use as as an adhesive remover in the food processing industry

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