Food Grade Silicone Sealant: Everything You Need to Know

The Importance of Food Grade Silicone Sealants for Your Business

If your business is involved in the food industry in any way, shape, or form, you’re no doubt fully aware of the paramount importance of health and safety. Depending on the specific niche, this involves various types of Food Safe Lubricants, ranging from Airline and Compressor Fluids to Food Safe Wipes.

But don’t forget food grade silicone sealant, which you’re required to use wherever food is processed or served. The good news is – you’ve come to the right place!

As specialists in lubrication solutions, at Lubricants SW we have a full range of premium products, perfect for a wide range of applications. And to help you choose the right one for you specific needs, we decided to take a deep dive into food grade sealants.

Read on!

What Is Food Grade Silicone Sealant?

Food grade sealant is a type of sealant and adhesive specifically designed for the food industry. It’s manufactured from non-toxic silicone, making it safe to use in multiple applications, such as refrigerators, freezers, ovens, and more. In this capacity, it provides a reliable, highly effective barrier, helping to seal joints, cracks, and gaps while also protecting foodstuffs from Salmonella, bacteria, E. Coli, and MRSA.

In addition to being non-toxic, food grade silicone sealants are highly resistant to chemicals, moisture, and temperatures. Additionally, they can be used on various surfaces, including glass, metal, plastics, and ceramics. Finally, they ensure compliance with safety and regulation standards, giving you peace of mind.  

So, what is the difference between silicone and food grade silicone?

It’s pretty straightforward, actually:

First, food grade silicone is made from high-quality materials, without the use of any harmful chemicals or fillers. Second, it’s odourless and flavourless. Third, it conforms to strict safety standards and regulations, and it’s independently certified.

Unfortunately, you can’t eat food-grade silicone, just in case you were wondering.

What Should I Look for When Buying Food Grade Silicone Sealant?

The most important thing to pay attention to when buying food grade silicone sealants is the manufacturing and/or safety standard. While these may vary depending on where the sealant has been produced, some of the more common ones you’re likely to come across in the UK are:

• LFGB – based on EC76/769/EEC and EC No. 1935/2004, this is the most widely used standard in Europe.
• FDA (Food Drug Administration) – mainly used in the US and Australia. The relevant standard is FDA 21 CFR 177.1210.

Now that you know what certificates you should be keeping an eye on, let’s take a closer look at some of the available products.

High-quality Food Grade Sealants from Lubricants SW

Here at Lubricants SW, we pride ourselves on offering only the best, most reliable food grade sealants.

Here’s the scoop:

OB1 – Multi-surface Sealant & Adhesive

This food safe, multi-surface construction sealant and adhesive meets ISEGA standard, making it perfect for use in kitchens and food prep areas. It’s safe to apply on countertops as well as sinks, and it won’t damage or stain surfaces. OB1 can easily bond with pretty much any surface, including lead, metals, carbon fibre, fiberglass, GRP, plastics, glass, and ceramics.

Thanks to its unique flexibility, OB1 can stretch up to 350% and will maintain a strong bond even when exposed to temperatures ranging from -40°C to +120°C. This makes it ideal for both extreme conditions and refrigerated environments.

Detectasil

A high-performance, detectable silicone sealant, Detectasil is perfect for sinks and other wet installations, wall panels, worktops, and laminates. As the name suggests, it can be seen by X-ray and metal detection systems in the food industry, which reduces greatly the risk of hidden contamination of food products. As an extra bonus, the detectable additive will repel rodents, preventing them from eating the sealant after application.

Detectasil can be applied at temperatures ranging from 5°C to 50°C. Once cured, it maintains its excellent performance at a service temperature of -30°C to 150°C.

Dow Corning 786 Mildew Resistant Silicone Sealant

This one-part, fast-curing, mildew-resistant silicone sealant meets FDA Regulation Number 2 CFR177.2600 and conforms to BS EN ISO 11600:2003, which makes it an excellent choice for sealing refrigerators, freezers, and other areas where repeated food contact is likely. Thanks to its strong adhesive properties to various non-porous surfaces, Dow Corning 786 is an endlessly versatile option. It has an application temperature range of 5°C to 40°C and features a food grade fungicide that kills dangerous parasitic fungi without damaging the food itself.

Dow Corning 798 Cold & Clean Room Sealant

A one-part, bacteria-resistant, cold and clean room silicone sealant, Dow Corning 798 has been designed to seal refrigeration units and other areas with intermittent food contact. Thanks to the food grade fungicide it contains, it’s resistant to mould growth and protects against Salmonella, E. Coli, bacteria, and MRSA. It adheres exceptionally well to both porous and non-porous substrates, such as copper and most plastics.

Manufactured to strict safety standards, Dow Corning 798 conforms to ISO 11600-F&G-25LM and ISO 22196:2011. Like Dow Corning 786, it has an application temperature range of 5°C to 40°C.

Lubricants SW: Your Go-to Destination for Food Grade Sealants

Now that you know what to look for when purchasing the right food grade silicone sealant for your particular situation, you’re all set to make your food-related business as safe as possible.

What’s more, at Lubricants SW, we can help you adopt a comprehensive food safety plan and achieve a prestigious BRC Certification.

Ready to order? Call us on 01822 855 885 or fill in the form on our Contact page to get in touch with us today. Our office opening hours are 6:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. We can’t wait to hear from you!