Food Safe Lubricants

Food Safe Lubricants are specialist oils, greases, and other lubrication products formulated for use in food, drink, pharmaceutical, and other hygiene-sensitive environments. Depending on their classification, they can be used where incidental or direct contact with food may occur.

Using the correct lubricant helps machinery operate efficiently while reducing the risk of chemical contamination. It can also protect components against friction, wear, corrosion, and water washout. Selecting suitable Food Grade Lubricants should form part of a manufacturer’s wider food safety and HACCP procedures.

Food Grade Lubricants are available in several forms for different machinery and operating conditions. These include:

• General Purpose Food Area Lubricants
• Food Grade Greases
• Food Safe Aerosols
• Food Grade Sealants
• Food Safe Wipes
• Direct Food Contact Lubricants
• Airline and Compressor Fluids
• Anti-Seize Assembly Lubricants
• Chain Fluids
• Cleaners and Degreasers
• Gear and Hydraulic Fluids
• Oxygen Compatible Grease

The correct product will depend on the component, operating temperature, load, speed, exposure to water, and whether food contact is possible. Lubricants SW supplies more than 100 food safe products across a wide range of specialist categories.

NSF H1 indicates that a lubricant is registered for use in food processing areas where incidental food contact may occur. This means small, technically unavoidable amounts of the lubricant could potentially come into contact with food during normal operation.

H1 does not mean that the lubricant is edible or suitable for deliberate addition to food. Lubrication points should still be correctly managed, and the minimum necessary amount of lubricant should be used. NSF registration involves an independent review of the product’s formulation and labelling against recognised requirements.

These classifications describe where and how a product may be used:

• H1: Lubricants used where incidental food contact is possible.
• H2: General industrial lubricants used in food premises where there is no possibility of contact with food.
• H3: Soluble oils used for specific applications within food processing environments.
• 3H: Release agents suitable for specified applications involving direct contact with food, such as preventing food from sticking to grills, trays or other processing surfaces.

H3 and 3H are separate classifications and should not be confused. A product should always be selected according to its exact NSF category and the intended application.

ISO 21469 is an international hygiene standard covering the formulation, manufacture, and use of lubricants that may come into incidental contact with food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or animal feed.

NSF H1 registration primarily reviews a lubricant’s ingredients and labelling. However, ISO 21469 certification goes further by examining manufacturing controls, packaging, storage, traceability, risk assessments, and product testing.

As such, it can provide additional assurance that the lubricant has been produced and handled under controlled hygienic conditions.

There is no single UK regulation requiring every food business to use one particular lubricant brand or NSF classification. However, food businesses must have a food safety management system based on HACCP principles.

This must identify and control potential hazards, including chemical contamination from lubricants, cleaning products and maintenance activities.

Equipment must also be suitably maintained to minimise contamination risks. In practice, businesses should assess each lubrication point, use an appropriately classified product, and retain relevant product information and records.

NSF H1 registration and ISO 21469 certification are widely recognised ways to support this process, although they do not replace a business’s own risk assessment or legal responsibilities.

Food Grade Lubricants are available from manufacturers, authorised distributors, and independent lubrication specialists throughout the UK.

Lubricants SW supplies Food Safe Lubricants to businesses across the UK and Ireland. Our range includes products from recognised brands such as Petro-Canada, Ambersil, PROTEAN, and FS.

Lubricants SW is also an authorised Petro-Canada Lubricants distributor and provides technical advice to help businesses select suitable products for their machinery, operating conditions, and food safety procedures.

There is no single Food Safe Lubricant that is best for every type of industrial machinery. The correct choice depends on the component, temperature, load, speed, environment, and risk of food contact.

Having said that, popular options within the Lubricants SW range include:

• Purity FG2 Grease: An NSF H1-registered grease for bearings, gears and other general food processing applications.
• Purity FG2 Synthetic Grease: Designed for demanding applications, water washout and temperatures from -40°C to 200°C.
• FS Clear Gear Oils: Synthetic NSF H1 oils for gearboxes, drive chains and recirculating systems.
• FS Lube Flow with PTFE: A synthetic lubricant for chains, sliding surfaces, pivots and nylon runners.
• FS Extra Aerosol: A penetrating food safe grease for bearings, chains and sliding components, including humid or saltwater environments.

A lubrication specialist should confirm compatibility with the machinery manufacturer’s specifications before a product is selected.

The most relevant classification will depend on how and where the lubricant is being used. Common registrations and certifications include:

• NSF H1 for applications where incidental food contact may occur
• NSF H2 where there must be no possibility of food contact
• NSF 3H for approved direct-contact release-agent applications
• ISO 21469 for additional assurance covering formulation, manufacture, packaging and hygiene controls

Kosher or Halal certification may also be important where required by the products being manufactured or the markets being served.

Always check the certification for the individual product. A manufacturer may offer both registered and non-registered products within the same range.

You can verify a lubricant by searching the official NSF White Book, the online directory of registered non-food compounds.

Search using the exact product name or manufacturer and check:

• The product name matches the container and technical documentation
• The correct NSF category, such as H1 or 3H, is shown
• The NSF registration number matches the supplier’s information
• The product remains listed in the current directory
• The listed manufacturer matches the product being purchased

Do not rely solely on an NSF logo displayed on a website or an old technical data sheet. The current NSF listing should be used to confirm the product’s registration status and approved category.