Of the eight Teflon™ coating properties, nonstick
and FDA-compliant may be the most familiar to consumers because of their use on
baking pans. But most consumers probably have no idea that that there
are
21
FDA-compliant Teflon™ coating systems
.
According the FDA
website
: “It is the responsibility of the manufacturer of
a Food Contact Substance (FCS) to ensure that food contact materials comply
with the specifications and limitations in all applicable authorizations. When
reviewing your composite formulations to determine compliance, consider each
authorization to be composed of three parts: the
identity of
the substance,
specifications including purity, or physical
properties and
limitations on the conditions of use.”
In the simplest terms, FDA compliance means that any material that
might contact food is inert and safe for human consumption. Teflon™-compliant
systems also offer temperature resistance, release, lubricity, and durability
for a multitude of applications such as baking molds, food production, food
assembly lines, and packaging lines. FDA-compliant Teflon™ coatings are
available in water and solvent based liquid formulations as well as powder.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regulation
21.CFR
(and specifically Part 177) governs
components of coatings for direct food contact. Each category of the Teflon™
fluoropolymers has coating systems that, when applied correctly according to
Fact Sheet instructions, are FDA-compliant. (
Here’s a handy
printable list
.) When checking the Fact Sheet, check under
the “Food Contact” subhead to confirm FDA compliance.
One important thing to note is that when using a multiple coat
system, all the components (primer, mid-coat, topcoat) must be FDA-compliant in
order for the system to be FDA-compliant. And if your coating is
FDA-compliant, it is also technically USDA-compliant, but the USDA requires a
special letter from the applicator.
For more information on the USDA compliance process, contact the Intech
Services technical team at
302-366-8530.
