Materials & compliance
What does food-grade plastic mean, and which plastics are food grade?
Short answer
Food-grade plastic is plastic approved for contact with food under set conditions: the right food type, temperature and time, with migration into the food below legal limits. PET (1), HDPE (2), LDPE (4), PP (5) and PS (6) are all made in food-grade versions, but the resin code alone does not prove it. Ask for a declaration of compliance; AVI supplies food-contact documentation for each grade, food and destination market.
Part of the guides: Bakery, deli and dry fruit packaging guide, Meat, poultry and seafood packaging guide, PET and rPET: the material guide and Plastic packaging rules and taxes: a guide for buyers and exporters
- Common food plasticsPET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS
- ProofDeclaration of compliance for the grade and use
Food-contact PET from AVI
- rPET Sheets for Thermoforming, Printing & PackagingrPET sheet from AVI Global Plast — 30% to 100% recycled content, 150–1,300 micron range, EN 15343 certified for...
- Starlinger deCON rPET Sheets for Food PackagingAVI's 100% post-consumer rPET sheet, mono-layer, decontaminated on Starlinger deCON technology for food contact. EN...
- Programmes & CertificationsAVI Global Plast's certifications — ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 9001, ISO 22000, ISO 15378/GMP, BRCGS 7, EN 15343,...
What 'food grade' depends on
- The material grade: made from approved substances.
- The use: which foods (dry, fatty, acidic), at what temperature, for how long.
- Testing: migration tests show what moves into the food stays within limits.
- The rules of the market: for example EU Regulation 10/2011 for plastics, FDA rules in the US, and FSSAI and BIS rules in India.
What to ask a supplier
- A declaration of compliance for the grade, naming the regulation.
- The conditions it covers: food type, temperature, time.
- For recycled plastic, proof the recycling process is approved for food contact.
AVI's certifications include ISO 22000 and BRCGS Packaging Materials (Grade A) for its food-contact operations.
Related questions
How can I tell if a plastic container is food grade?
Look for a food-contact symbol (a glass and fork in the EU) or the supplier's declaration of compliance. A recycling number tells you the plastic, not whether that grade is approved for food.
Is recycled plastic food grade?
Only if it comes from a recycling process approved for food contact. AVI's food-grade rPET is decontaminated with Starlinger deCON technology.
Does food grade mean microwave safe?
No. Approval covers stated conditions; PET packs are for chilled and room-temperature food, not for heating.