Why is "food grade" not enough?
"Food grade" is a sales phrase, not a document. Requirements vary from organisation to organisation, so they must be checked for each material, component and equipment configuration. Compliance is specific to the material and the grade. A standard black acetal, for example, contains carbon black at levels that may not comply, so you specify natural or an explicitly food-contact grade and confirm the maker's certification letter.
So two bushings made from "the same plastic" can have different paperwork. Ask about the exact part you will buy.
Does the FDA approve plastic bushings?
No. The FDA does not approve specific plastic products for food contact. It sets regulations, and a material that meets them is described as "FDA compliant". There is no government-run inspection of plastics made for food contact, and the end user is responsible for using the product in a way that fits the FDA rules.
This is why a written statement from the maker matters. It is the maker's declaration, backed by test and material records.
What documents should you ask for?
Use this as a checklist.
| Ask for | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| The regulation the material falls under (in the US, the section of 21 CFR) | Which rule covers the polymer. Confirm the section, because it differs by plastic |
| Certificate of conformance | The maker's statement that the delivered lot or grade meets that rule |
| Letter of guaranty | A written guarantee from the supplier that the product suits its intended food-contact use, issued under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act |
| Resin grade, and whether it is virgin | Which exact material is in the part. Virgin resin is normally part of the compliance statement |
| Additive declaration | Whether stabilisers, colourants and fillers are on the permitted list |
| Migration or extractive test results, if the supplier has them | Whether substances move out of the plastic into food under test conditions. Not every material comes with a report, so ask what exists |
For a bushing that is a composite, with a filler or solid lubricant, the point about components matters. Each component of a food-contact material must be covered by a regulation in 21 CFR, by "generally recognised as safe" status, by a prior sanction, by a threshold-of-regulation exemption, or by an effective food contact notification. A notification is effective only for the manufacturer named in it, so the substance has to come from that manufacturer. A metal-detectable grade carries an added detectable filler, which is one more component the statement has to cover.
What do you need to tell the supplier first?
Write down how the bushing will really be used before you ask for paper. The same approach is used for food-contact packaging, and it carries over:
- Food type. Dry, watery, acidic or fatty.
- Contact. Whether food touches the bushing, or it only sits in the splash zone.
- Temperature. Washing, processing, and storage temperatures. A grade that suits one temperature may not suit another.
- How long it is in contact.
Add the cleaning chemicals and the wash temperature from Q1-07. A list like this is a starting point, not regulatory or legal advice, so involve your quality or regulatory staff.
Does the same list apply outside the US?
Not exactly. In the EU the general rule for all food-contact materials is Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004. It requires that materials do not release constituents into food at harmful levels, and do not change the food's composition, taste or smell in an unacceptable way. It also provides for compliance documentation and traceability. In practice, the document to ask for is the supplier's written Declaration of Compliance for the material, stating the rules it meets and the conditions of use it covers. Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 covers plastics specifically, with a Union List of permitted substances, and Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 sets good manufacturing practice. If you sell into a market outside the US, ask for the statement that matches that market's rule.
What else might your plant ask for?
Some plants require more than FDA alone: NSF/ANSI 51 for food equipment materials, and 3-A for dairy and beverage equipment. In HACCP zones, blue, metal-detectable grades are common practice, so a fragment can be seen and found by a metal detector. Check your plant's own rules first.