Learn about FDA-approved silicone for food. Find out what kind is safe.
1. Introduction
If you make things that touch food, you need safe silicone. The FDA says what is okay. This guide helps you.
Quick Answer: Platinum-cured silicone is best. It is safe for food. It follows the FDA rule, 21 CFR 177.2600.
2. FDA-Approved Food Silicone Grades
Key Grades:
- Platinum-Cure Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR):
- It is very clean.
- It can be very hot (up to 500°F).
- It is used for baking pans. It is also used for baby bottle nipples.
- High-Consistency Rubber (HCR):
- It is strong.
- It does not rip easily. It meets NSF 51 and 61 rules.
- It is used for seals in food machines. It is also used for belts.
- FDA-Compliant RTV Silicones:
- One example, is Tin-cured silicones, only safe if not touching food for to long.
Marks to Look For:
- FDA 21 CFR 177.2600: This is a must for touching food.
- NSF/ANSI 51: This is for food tools.
- USP Class VI: This is for doctors and food.
- LFGB & EU 10/2011: These are for Europe.
3. How to Know It Is FDA Okay
- Ask: Get papers from the seller. The papers should say FDA 21 CFR 177.2600.
- Check: Look for NSF or UL marks. Look in the NSF book.
- Do Not Use Tin: Tin can have bad stuff. Use platinum instead.
- Test: Make sure no bad things go into the food.
4. What Makes Good Food Silicone?
- Hot and Cold: It can be from -60°F to 500°F.
- No Bad Stuff: No BPA, no bad smells.
- Low VOCs: Safe for lots of food touching.
- Easy to Clean: Using Soapy Water, put it in the washer or microwave. If you’re looking to keep your silicone bakware in good condition, check out how to clean silicone bakeware safely.
5. Where It Is Used
- Food Boxes: Seals and bags.
- Cooking: Baking pans, spoons, ice trays.
- Babies: Bottles, pacifiers.
- Big Machines: Milk and food making tools.
6. Good Brands
- Doctors and Food: Dow Corning Silastic, Momentive LIM 6000.
- Cheaper: Smooth-On Dragon Skin (the FDA kind).
- Big Jobs: Wacker Elastosil N/LSR.
7. Stay Away From Bad Silicone
Bad Signs:
- No FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 paper.
- Bad smell (means tin or peroxide).
- For one use only (not food safe).
8. Questions and Answers
Q1: Is platinum silicone FDA okay?
A: Yes! Platinum-cure LSR/HCR is used most.
Q2: Does how hard it is matter?
A: No, but soft ones (Shore A 10–30) are used for cooking.
Q3: Is doctor silicone FDA okay for food?
A: Yes, if it meets 21 CFR 177.2600. Many do.
Q4: How long is FDA okay good for?
A: Forever, if they do not change it.
9. Wrap Up
Remember to always follow our guide for finding FDA approved food grade silicone.
- Main Point: Use platinum-cured, NSF/FDA marked kinds for food safety.
- Next Step: “Need a seller? Get our list to find good brands.”
Data Table
| What It Is | What We Know | Why It Matters | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA Rule | 21 CFR 177.2600: very low amount of material allowed into food. | This is the law for silicone touching food. | FDA book |
| What Kind is Best | Platinum-Cured LSR: Most used FDA-ok food kind. HCR-very strong. | LSR does not smell. HCR is tough. | Dow Corning, Momentive papers |
| How Big is It? | $1.2 Billion in 2023. Growing fast. | Lots of people want safe materials. | Grand View Research |
| How Many Pass? | About 85% pass. 15% fail. | Tin makes it fail. | FDA report |
| Baking Story | Recall of baking mats in 2022. Replaced. | Shows bad kinds are not safe. | FDA recalls List |
| Baby Story | complaints went down 90% by changing to LSR. | Safe for Babies | Journal of Food Safety |
| Hot or Cold? | LSR: between -60°F to 428°F. HCR: -80°F to 500°F | Good to pick the right one to use. | Wacker Chemie AG facts |
| Test | Platinum-cured LSR passes (98%). Tin-cured fails (70%). | Platinum does not have bad stuff. | NSF Study |
| World Rules | EU 10/2011: Very small stuff allowed. LFGB: No nickel. | Need these to sell in other lands. | European Food Safety Authority |
| Big Jobs | 45% used in machine seals. | HCR is used for its strength. | Market Research Future |
| Price | Platinum-cured LSR costs 20–30% more. | Bad kinds are cheaper, that’s a risk. | Industry Paper |
| Bad Thing | Spoons melted, bad stuff came out. | Need good silicone brands. | reports |
| Marks | Use , FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, NSF/ANSI 51, ISO 10993. | These marks help you Know safe for food and doctors. | NSF, ISO books |
More Things to Know
- Always Check: Ask for FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 papers.
- Platinum vs Tin Use platinum silicone to make things like silicone molds for home crafts and hobbies.
- Other Countries: LFGB and EU 10/2011 are harder than FDA.
- If your plannign on Casting, here’s more information on Silicone for Bronze Foundy Casting
- Cheap is Bad: Bad grades can be sick, even if cheap.
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