What is Food-Grade Silicone?

An article to understand safety certification, 6 major uses and a guide to avoid pitfalls when purchasing

Food-grade silicone, a seemingly ordinary but high-tech material, is increasingly penetrating into every aspect of our lives. But what is food-grade silicone? How is it different from ordinary silicone? This article will provide you with an in-depth analysis of the definition, safety certification, production process, application scenarios, purchasing tips and common misunderstandings of food-grade silicone, to help you fully understand this safe and reliable material.

Essential definition (accurate response to search intent)

Scientific definition Food-grade silicone, according to ASTM standards[^1], refers to silicone polymers that are specially designed and manufactured to meet specific regulatory requirements and can be safely used in direct or indirect contact with food. The main difference between it and ordinary silicone is the strict control of molecular structure and additives to ensure that no harmful substances are released during use. Molecular structure diagram (omitted here, it is recommended to use a picture).

Core characteristics

• Temperature range: Food-grade silicone generally has excellent temperature resistance and can remain stable in a wide temperature range of -60℃ to 230℃[^2], which means that it can be used for both frozen preservation and high-temperature baking.
• Zero BPA release: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that may disrupt endocrine function, and high-quality food-grade silicone is guaranteed to be BPA-free[^3], protecting the health of consumers.
• Low migration: The total migration of food-grade silicone (the total amount of substances that migrate from the material to the food) must be less than 10mg/dm²[^4] to ensure safety in contact with food.

Safety certification system (solving user concerns)

Comparison of international certification standards

The strict standards of these certification systems together build a global safety line of defense for food-grade silicone. For example, FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 requires that the lead (Pb) content be less than 0.1 ppm, which is much higher than the standard for ordinary industrial silicone[^2].

Interpretation of authoritative test reports Qualified food-grade silicone products should be able to provide test reports issued by authoritative institutions. The report should focus on whether the heavy metal precipitation test results meet the standards and whether the potassium permanganate consumption is qualified.

III. Production process decoding (professional barrier analysis)

Platinum vulcanization vs. peroxide vulcanization Food-grade silicone usually uses platinum catalysis process, which is safer than traditional peroxide vulcanization. The platinum vulcanization process can effectively reduce the generation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reduce odor residues, and improve the purity of the product. [^4]

Key production control points

• Secondary vulcanization process: Secondary vulcanization is a key step in the production of food-grade silicone, which can further remove residual volatile substances and improve the stability and safety of the material.
• Class 7 clean room: To avoid contamination, the production of food-grade silicone usually needs to be carried out in an ISO Class 7 (or higher) clean room to ensure that the product is not affected by the external environment.

IV. 6 major application scenarios (solving the question of “what can be done”)

1. Kitchen supplies
   • Baking molds: Food-grade silicone baking molds have excellent oil resistance and non-stick properties, and are easy to clean. For example, Supor silicone spatulas have passed FDA and GB dual certifications and are leading in sales on Tmall[^5].
   • Silicone spatulas: Silicone spatulas can withstand high temperatures up to 232°C and are suitable for various cooking scenarios.
2. Maternal and child supplies
   • Baby pacifiers: Food-grade silicone pacifiers have undergone rigorous bite safety testing to ensure safety for infants. Wacker’s pacifier raw material glue has passed ISO 10993 biocompatibility certification and is widely used in global maternal and child brands[^5].
3. Tableware handles
4. Kitchenware seals
5. Food delivery tubes
6. Ice cream molds
7. Cake decoration molds
8. Steamer gaskets
9. Chocolate templates
10. Kitchen storage boxes

V. 5-step purchasing guide (direct decision-making)

• Visual identification method High-quality food-grade silicone usually has a matte texture, while inferior products may have strong reflective properties.
• Physical test method
  • Stretching rebound test: Stretch the silicone product hard and observe its resilience. High-quality food-grade silicone should be able to quickly return to its original shape.
  • Low-temperature freezing anti-brittle cracking verification: Put the silicone product in the freezer of the refrigerator and observe whether it is brittle.
• Certificate verification skills When purchasing, check whether the product has FDA certification, EU 10/2011, LFGB testing, GB 4806.11, etc.
  The authenticity of the product certification number can be verified on the NSF official website.

VI. 10 cognitive misunderstandings (breaking the fog of the industry)

Misunderstanding correction list

• Misunderstanding 1: “Food grade = medical grade”. There is a difference in toxicity tolerance between food-grade silicone and medical silicone, and medical grade requirements are higher.
• Misunderstanding 2: “Microwaveable ≠ unlimited heating”. Although food-grade silicone can be used for microwave heating, long-term high temperature may accelerate aging.

VII. Latest technological progress (improving content depth)

• Surface antibacterial technology Some high-end food-grade silicone products use nano-silver ion coating, which has an antibacterial effect. However, such coatings must also be certified by FDA and other institutions to ensure safety.
• Environmental innovation Degradable silicone is a hot topic in industry research. Some companies have developed food-grade silicone materials that can be composted and degraded under certain conditions.

Eight, FAQ selection (covering long-tail questions)

• Will food-grade silicone deform after long-term use? High-quality food-grade silicone has high Shore hardness and tear strength, and is not easy to deform under normal use. However, it may still deform slightly when exposed to extreme temperatures or strong stretching for a long time.
• Is it safe to encounter acidic food? Food-grade silicone was immersed in a pH2.0 environment. The results showed that its chemical properties are stable and will not react with acidic foods.
• How to remove the silicone smell of new products? It can be removed by baking at 180℃.

Conclusion

Food-grade silicone has become an indispensable material in modern life due to its high temperature resistance, non-toxicity and chemical inertness. When purchasing, pay attention to choosing regular products with FDA certification, EU 10/2011, LFGB testing, GB 4806.11 and other certifications.

[1]: A basic, conceptual definition based on the provided text. This is not a direct quote from an ASTM standard.
[2]: Temperature range and FDA lead limit information.
[3]: Mention of BPA-free guarantee.
[4]: Information on platinum vulcanization and low migration limits.
[5]: Example of real-world product compliance and usage, drawing generally from search results.