Like the pre-existing NSF H1, H2 and H3 designations, ISO 21469 is all about trying to ensure that consumers are protected from the deleterious effects of contaminating food and food-related products with the lubricant.
However, the first important distinction is that ISO 21469 only addresses products intended for “incidental contact” (so-called H1 products in the old terminology). It does not cover the NSF H3 category of lubricants where product contact is inevitable (e.g., a meat hook), nor does it address H2 lubricants.
Second, unlike the NSF H1 designation, which simply addresses the potential toxicological, carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of the lubrication by comparing a list of the lubricant’s “ingredients” with a list of approved food-safe products (per 21.CFR 178.3570), ISO 21469 addresses the whole process of lubricant design, manufacturing, packaging and transportation.
Klüber Lubrication, a worldwide manufacturer of specialty lubricants, has received the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) ISO 21469 certification.
The certification from the NSF ensures food-grade lubricants from Klüber Lubrication are manufactured in a hygienic environment, using both best practices and the safest ingredients. Klüber Lubrication leads the industry with five global locations that are NSF ISO 21469 certified.
ISO 21469 specifies hygiene requirements for the formulation, manufacture, use and handling of lubricants which, during manufacture and processing, can come into incidental contact with products and packaging used in the food, food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, tobacco and animal‐feeding‐stuffs industries.
The certification specifies requirements to ensure ingredients used in lubricant products are safe and product labels are true and accurate. In addition, it ensures the manufacturer has identified and evaluated relevant hazards associated with the use of the certified lubricant. Furthermore, it confirms quality procedures and good manufacturing practices are followed through production facility audits and analytical testing has verified the integrity of the product composition.
With the certification, Klüber Lubrication is in an ideal position to provide better recommendations to customers on best practices within their own facilities.
“It goes beyond the lubricant formulations being recommended,” says Toby Porter, market manager for the food industry at Klüber Lubrication. “With the NSF ISO 21469 certification, these products are being manufactured through a hygienic process that works to avoid risks for contamination. We then offer support on best practices to the end user that include the proper storage, handling and use of these lubricants to further mitigate these types of risks and deliver more than food safety.”
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