When it comes to quality, unfortunately not all industries are as stringent and particular about their lubrication and the products they are using. Look inside the lubricant cabinet of food, beverage or pharmaceutical plant and you may be surprised at what you find:
- Non-food grade lubricants containing poisonous barium
- Industrial degreasers
- Adhesives that employ nasty solvents
- Non-transparent grease guns
When non-food-grade lubricants clutter up a storage cabinet, there’s always the chance that someone reaches for the wrong lubricant at the wrong time. When that happens, industrial lubricants that contain lithium or barium could cause serious contamination.
In the past, the thinking was that industrial lubricants (H2) could be used depending on whether the application was “above the line or below the line.” That meant, for example, anything inside a gearbox below a conveyor belt could not reach the food above it.
That thinking has since been challenged with studies and experiences showing how contamination can actually occur in food plants.
H1 lubricants may have incidental contact with food. Formulations may only contain certain base stocks, additives and thickeners as specified by FDA regulations (21 CFR 178.3570). In addition, in the event of incidental contact, contamination of food by an H1 lubricant must not exceed 10 parts per million (i.e., 0.001 per cent).
H2 lubricants may only be used where there is no possibility of contact with food. Their formulations do not face the restrictions applicable to H1 lubricants. However, H2 lubricants cannot contain carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens, mineral acids or intentionally heavy metals such as antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury or selenium.
H3 lubricants, also known as soluble or edible oils, are typically used to clean and prevent rust on hooks, trolleys and similar equipment. After application, these lubricants must be washed or wiped clean from the equipment before it is put to use. H3 lubricants may only contain edible oils, certain mineral oils that meet FDA 21 CFR 172.878
The only way to completely avoid the risks of contamination is to eliminate all non-food-grade lubricants in the cabinet and the plant. This practice accords with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) scrutinizing every ingredient in the “Farm to Fork” supply chain.
It also brings other benefits:
- Standardizing on NSF H1 food-grade-approved lubricants simplifies inventory
- Eliminates a source of potential contamination with hazardous substances
- Assures equipment longevity with food-grade lubricants that provide the same friction and corrosion protection as industrial lubricants
Asst. Manager - Business Support
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