Whether you run a small food service business, catering service, or a large food manufacturing facility, ensuring the safety and quality of the products you sell or serve is of utmost importance. Not only does choosing the right packaging preserve the integrity and quality of your food products but also helps you ensure compliance with safety regulations.
That’s why using food-grade plastic is as important as the products you sell in them.
This comprehensive guide is designed to equip food businesses like yours with essential knowledge about food-grade plastic and its crucial role in maintaining the integrity of your food packaging, storage, and preparation processes.
So, let’s unlock the secrets of food grade plastic together.
Food grade plastic bags are specifically designed for safely storing and transporting food. Unlike regular plastic bags, food grade bags are made from plastics that won’t leach chemicals into foods or beverages.
To be considered food grade, food packaging bags are to be made from materials that are FDA approved for direct food contact. The most common plastics used are polyethene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). These plastics are non-toxic, odorless, and chemically stable.
Food grade and food safe sound similar. But they are not.
Here is an example to learn that blur difference between them:
Recall your high school geometry lessons, where we learned that while all squares are rectangles, not all rectangles are squares.
Similarly, every food-safe material can be food-grade, but not all food-grade materials are necessarily food-safe.
Food-safe materials are specifically designed to be in contact with food without causing harm, whereas food-grade materials can be deemed safe as long as they are used appropriately.
To ensure food grade packaging bags are safe for food storage and handling, they go through a rigorous manufacturing process.
First, the raw plastic materials, usually polyethylene (PE) pellets, are carefully selected to meet strict FDA regulations for food contact. Only plastics specifically approved for food use are allowed.
Next, the pellets are heated and extruded into a molten tube that is blown into a bubble. This bubble is then squeezed and rolled flat into plastic sheeting. During extrusion, additives like UV inhibitors and anti-static agents are often added to improve the functionality and shelf life of the bags. These additives also must be FDA-approved for food contact.
The plastic sheeting is then printed, cut, and sealed into bags of various sizes. Throughout the conversion process, the bags go through multiple quality checks to ensure there are no tears, holes, or other defects before being packaged for sale.
To maintain food safety, the entire manufacturing process is carefully controlled and monitored. Equipment and surfaces are routinely sterilized, and workers follow strict hygiene protocols. Factories that produce food grade plastic bags are also subject to frequent audits and inspections.
By following rigorous standards and practices, food grade plastic bags can be safely used to store, transport and preserve a variety of foods. When used properly and according to guidelines, they help reduce food waste and support a sustainable food supply chain.
Polyethylene, or PE, is the most common plastic used for food grade packaging bags. It’s a lightweight, flexible, and moisture-resistant material that’s ideal for packaging and storing food. The two types used are:
Both LDPE and HDPE are considered safe for food contact and are used to make bags for produce, meats, snacks, and more. They are odorless, colorless plastics approved by the FDA for food grade use.
Polypropylene, or PP, is another plastic approved for food grade bags and packaging. It’s a rigid, heat-resistant plastic used for containers like reusable food storage boxes, microwaveable meal trays, and yogurt cups. PP bags are moisture and grease resistant, ideal for packaging snacks, granola, nuts and dried fruits. They have high clarity and gloss, allowing the contents to be clearly visible.
Nylon is a strong, durable plastic used for mesh bags, netting, and monofilament. Nylon bags are breathable, allowing airflow to the contents. They are often used for products like onions, citrus, and root vegetables that require ventilation. Nylon is FDA approved for food contact and can withstand high temperatures during cooking or reheating.
For a plastic bag to be considered food grade, it needs to be made from plastics that won’t leach chemicals into food. The most common plastics used are polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). These plastics are chemically inert, meaning they don’t react with or dissolve into the foods they come into contact with. Other plastics like PVC often contain plasticizers and stabilizers that can migrate into food, so they are not food safe.
Food grade plastic bags are made from plastics and additives that are approved for direct food contact. The manufacturers rigorously test the bags to ensure there is no chemical migration according to strict food safety standards. The bags may also undergo additional testing to certify they meet requirements for specific foods like high-fat, high-moisture, or acidic foods. If a bag is not clearly marked as “food grade” or “food safe,” it has not gone through this testing and should not be used for food.
Food grade plastic bags need to be thick enough to safely contain foods without the risk of punctures, tears or leaks. The thickness, measured in mils, depends on the intended use and food type. For example, bags for produce and meats are typically thicker than bags for dried goods. The bag material and seams must be durable enough to withstand the weight and moisture of the food.
Food grade plastic bags will always be clearly marked as “food grade,” “food safe,” or for a specific food type like “produce bags” or “freezer bags.” This labeling, along with the plastic type, like HDPE or LDPE, tells you the bags have been properly manufactured, tested, and approved for direct food contact. If there is no food-related labeling, it’s best to avoid using the bags for food storage.
Food grade plastic bags have many important uses, especially in the food industry. Let’s explore some of the main ways these bags are utilized.
The most obvious use of food grade plastic bags is safely storing and transporting food. Restaurants, grocery stores, and food manufacturers rely on these bags to keep ingredients and products fresh during shipping and storage. Plastic bags create an airtight seal that locks in freshness and prevents contamination.
Food grade plastic bags are ideal for freezing food. They are durable enough to withstand extremely cold temperatures without becoming brittle. The airtight seal also prevents freezer burn by blocking exposure to oxygen. Many brands of resealable frozen food bags are BPA-free and FDA-approved for direct food contact.
Some high-quality food grade plastic bags are microwave and dishwasher-safe, allowing you to cook and reheat food directly in the bag. This is very convenient but be sure to double-check the specifications of your bags to ensure they can withstand high heat before using them in this way.
Pre-made plastic bags in various sizes are useful for controlling portion sizes. You can separate bulk ingredients or leftovers into individual servings before storing or freezing. This makes it easy to grab just what you need and avoids waste.
Finally, food grade plastic bags help keep your kitchen, pantry, and refrigerator organized. Use them to group similar items or to keep strong-smelling foods separated. Label each bag to make things easy to spot at a glance. An organized kitchen is an efficient kitchen!
With many benefits and a variety of applications, it’s no wonder food grade plastic bags have become such an integral part of food storage and preparation. Keep a supply on hand and discover how useful they can be.
Whether you need bags for produce, meat, baked goods, or liners, you’ve got the knowledge to pick ones that will keep your food fresh and safe. You understand the different types of plastics, which ones are food grade, and the pros and cons of each.
You’re also aware of some of the environmental impacts and can make sustainable choices. Food grade plastic bags may not seem like the most exciting topic, but knowing how to properly handle food is so important.
At Connover Packaging, we offer high quality food grade packaging bags for all types and sizes of food industries.
Sandbags, animal feed bags, and bags to contain grains for human consumption must be sturdy, tear resistant, and available in water- and UV light-resistant versions. The ultimate guide to polypropylene bags we provide below will give you an appreciation of the strength, versatility, and variety of uses woven polypropylene bags provide.
Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer resin. “Poly” means many. Polypropylene is made by subjecting propylene (a petroleum byproduct) molecules (monomers) to a chemical reaction that makes the molecules combine into a large “networked” or chain molecule, called a polymer.
Polypropylene has many attractive qualities that make it an excellent material for making packaging. Polypropylene is (or can be) made to be:
Polypropylene resin pellets are heated, then extruded into strips, like thin, flat tapes. For nonwoven polypropylene (PP) bags, these strips are bonded together to make a smoother type of plastic bag. Woven PP bags run the filaments or threads for polypropylene through an industrial loom. The loom weaves them into a fabric with warp and weft (meaning horizontal strips weave over and under vertical strips).
The weaving machines create large rolls of fabric, and from those rolls, the woven polypropylene goes through cutting and sealing or sewing machines to turn the fabric into bags.
Both woven and nonwoven PP bags can undergo lamination to make them more amenable to printing and more durable. Woven bags are stronger than nonwoven bags and can carry more weight than a nonwoven bag of the same size.
Woven PP bags are a versatile type of packaging used by suppliers of flowable, bulk products, including animal feed, grains, seeds, powders, and resins. Types of woven PP bags include:
Our ultimate guide to polypropylene bags wouldn’t be complete without an explanation of the advantages of woven PP bags. Manufacturers and suppliers of flowable bulk and dry goods love these bags for a variety of reasons. Among the advantages of woven PP bags are:
Many manufacturers and distributors use woven polypropylene bags to store or transport products. Examples include:
If you are a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer in need of packaging material for flowable dry goods, consider working with a supplier that can provide you with a variety of choices. Woven PP bags, including FIBC and BOPP bags, may be just the right thing.
On the retail end, BOPP bags, with their high gloss lamination that can accept sharply detailed graphics on the inside of the laminating film, stand out on shelves with color and images that won’t fade or crack.
For transporting or storing large quantities of dry goods, FIBC bags with structural baffles, spouts, or duffel bag closures could work. Find out if your supplier can provide bags with corner handles, top and/or bottom spouts, or electrostatic protections for materials that could generate static electricity through friction with the bag.
Another consideration is the supplier’s ability to print your chosen graphics on your bags in the colors you want.
At S & K Packaging, we offer several options for woven PP bags. We also offer paper bags, paper-poly combination bags, and packaging supplies, including twine, bulk bag repair tape, and industrials sewing machine thread. Contact us today to discuss your need for paper, paper-poly, FIBC, or BOPP bags.
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