Health and safety are the primary focuses of suppliers and manufacturers throughout the supply chain, and that commitment goes beyond ingredients. Food production equipment requires the same maintenance and lubrication as other machinery. High-performance food-grade lubricants are integral to delivering safe, delightful products to consumers.
Learn how the best food-grade lubricants meet the needs and regulations of manufacturers, and how suppliers are creating new products to meet changing consumer preferences.
What Are Food-Grade Lubricants?
Food-grade lubricants are a category of oils and greases used in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care manufacturing. All types of food-grade lubrication must be non-toxic and non-staining while also meeting the core functions of any lubricant, including:
- Protection against wear, friction, and oxidation
- Dissipation of heat transfer
- Working in conjunction with potentially sensitive materials, such as rubber and other sealing materials
Base Material Types of Food-Grade Lubricants
Food-grade lubricants are usually categorized by their chemical composition, which indicates their ideal applications and, in many ways, their regulatory category as well.
- White mineral oils: These highly refined petroleum oils are the most common base material on the food-grade lubricants market, especially for H1-rated lubricants.
- Polyalphaolefins (POA): Known for its thermal stability, POA is a synthetic hydrocarbon oil used in a variety of applications.
- Silicone: Food-grade silicone lubricants are often used in high-temperature manufacturing processes.
- Esters: While typically higher-cost, ester oils offer exceptional performance and are quickly becoming the most popular biodegradable food-grade lubricant.
Food-Grade Lubricant Regulations and Categories
Historically, food-grade lubricant registrations were obtained through approval by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the agency’s three-tiered standards. The USDA standards remain the benchmark for safety in the US, while the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has emerged as the global leader in public health for food safety. NSF operates the widely adopted registration program and certifies lubricants to international standards used by regulators and auditors
The NSF’s Three Food-Grade Categories
The basis of the USDA’s criteria is the likelihood that a product (in this case, the lubricant) will come into direct contact with food. This can happen due to technical failures, such as leaks, or surface transfers to the ingredients of finished products.
| NSF Category | Name | Level of Food Contact | Key Characteristics / Requirement | Typical Application |
| H1 | Incidental Food Contact | Acceptable for incidental, technically unavoidable contact with food products | Formulated only with approved, non-toxic ingredients | Mixers, blenders, can seamers, pumps, and bottling equipment |
| H2 | No Food Contact | Used in areas where there is absolutely no possibility of contact with edible products | Ingredients are non-toxic but not required to meet H1’s stringent standards | External components (e.g., forklift chassis, motor bearings, exterior gearbox casings) |
| H3 | Soluble Oils/Rust Inhibitors | Must be removed completely before the equipment returns to the production area | Used for cleaning and rust prevention | Hooks, trolleys, and other portable machinery |
Explore Tilley Distribution’s complete food-grade lubricants list, or contact a representative today to source the right product to suit your needs.
Innovation and Expectations: What’s Next
Regulation and Compliance
For several years, the future of the food-grade lubricants market has been shaped largely by shifting regulations. The NSF has effectively replaced the USDA as the industry’s consensus builder in this market. The organization has largely adopted the German Institute of Standardization’s draft standard. The NSF developed NSF 116 (2000/2001) as a draft/NSF standard covering H1 and H3 categories. Today, the internationally recognized product standard is ISO 21469:2006.
These standards establish food safety evaluation criteria for all food-grade lubricants. The NSF 116-2000 draft includes manufacturer validation standards and definitions for lubricants throughout the food and beverage manufacturing process, from processing to handling to storage.
Notably, as drafted, NSF 116-2000 only addresses food-specific lubricants, limiting its scope to H1 and H3 lubricants.
Because the NSF’s categories are built on those of the USDA, food-grade lubricant manufacturers haven’t had to make significant changes, although education has been critical to reassuring their end-use customers.
Demand for Allergen-Free Formulation
Food allergens are a growing concern for consumers and public health officials. As all interested parties look to safeguard against cross-contamination during processing, packaging, and storage, allergen-free food-grade lubricants are a priority for manufacturers. NSF H1 food-grade lubricant registration does not automatically imply or guarantee a lubricant is allergen-free.
More manufacturers and facilities are seeking third-party allergen-free certification to meet this growing consumer priority. This offers food lubricant suppliers a meaningful product differentiation strategy to enhance marketplace value as well.
Clean Label and Plant-based
Manufacturers are working to offer a wider range of cost-effective plant-based, food-grade lubricants to align with vegan and vegetarian dietary standards. Formulation depends on rapeseed or sunflower oils that will meet both NSF H1 standards and dietary standards while excluding synthetic, petroleum-based oils. Development in the space also allows manufacturers to offer clean-label, sustainable ingredients.
Make the Grade with Tilley Distribution
From bulk delivery of food-grade oils and greases to technical expertise, Tilley offers everything you want from a go-to distribution partner. Tap into our global network of specialty food and beverage ingredients suppliers and the knowledgeable technical team to accelerate product development. We are invested in your continued success; let’s grow together. Connect with a Tilley representative today to get started.
