Suitable for food
Food grade (food-contact compliant) designates materials and products approved for contact with food without impairing its quality or endangering human health. The framework regulation is (EC) No 1935/2004.
Additional EU regulations apply for specific materials:
- (EU) No 10/2011: plastics in food contact (relevant for PVC/vinyl and PE gloves)
- (EC) No 2023/2006: GMP for food contact materials
Compliance is demonstrated through migration testing using food simulants:
- Simulant A (water): for aqueous foods
- Simulant B (3 % acetic acid): for acidic foods (pH < 4.5)
- Simulant C (10 % ethanol): for alcoholic foods
- Simulant D1/D2 (50 % ethanol/isooctane): for fatty foods
The food contact symbol (fork-and-glass symbol) marks compliant products. It applies to gloves used in food processing, packaging, and catering.
Frequently asked questions
Which regulation applies to food-grade gloves?
The framework regulation is (EC) No 1935/2004. For plastic gloves (nitrile, vinyl, PE), (EU) No 10/2011 additionally applies. Compliance is demonstrated through migration testing with food simulants.
What is the food contact symbol and when must it be used?
The fork-and-glass symbol indicates that a product is suitable for food contact and complies with Regulation (EC) 1935/2004. It is not legally mandatory but is the standard marking for food-contact-compliant products.
Can all glove materials be food grade?
Nitrile, vinyl/PVC and PE can be assessed for food-contact suitability under Regulation (EU) 10/2011. There is no EU positive list for natural latex; the applicable references are the BfR recommendations and framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004. Vinyl is unsuitable for fatty and alcoholic foods because of plasticiser migration.