What is Food-Grade Silicone? And Is It Really Safe to Use in Manufacturing Facilities?

Details matter in the food and beverage industry, from the taste of the final product to the safety of the equipment that makes it. That’s where food-grade silicone lubricants step in.

These products do more than just keep machinery running smoothly; they serve a critical role in protecting equipment while ensuring consumer safety. Unlike traditional lubricants, food-grade silicone is carefully designed for environments where contact with food is unavoidable. 

Whether it’s direct contact (such as preventing dough from sticking to machinery) or incidental contact (like lubricating a conveyor belt carrying packaged goods), the lubricant must not compromise food safety. 

Choosing the wrong lubricant risks a range of consequences, including contamination, equipment damage, and even regulatory issues.

So, what is food-grade silicone, and is food-grade silicone safe? Let’s explore its properties, uses, and benefits, and why the right lubricant can be a game-changer for your food processing operation.

What is Food-Grade Silicone?

Food-grade silicone is a specially formulated synthetic material that combines heat resistance, flexibility, non-toxicity, and chemical stability, making it ideal for direct and indirect food contact applications. 

Unlike standard lubricants, which may contain unsafe additives or chemicals, food-grade silicone lubricant is manufactured to strict standards to ensure it won’t compromise the taste, texture, appearance, or safety of food.

One of its defining characteristics is neutrality—it has no odor, no taste, and no color, ensuring that food products remain completely unchanged after contact. This makes it especially valuable in high-stakes applications where the smallest contamination could ruin a batch of product.

In practical use, food-grade silicone lubricants are most often applied to metal-to-non-metal surfaces in food processing facilities. For example, it’s used to keep rubber seals, O-rings, and plastic gaskets functioning smoothly against metal machinery components.

Let’s walk through the key properties of food-grade silicone lubricants:

1. Heat Resistance: Withstands both extreme hot and cold temperatures without breaking down.
2. Flexibility: Remains effective on a wide variety of materials, including rubber and plastics.
3. Non-toxicity: Safe for direct or incidental food contact.
4. Chemical Stability: Non-reactive with food ingredients, cleaning agents, and sanitizers.

Check Out Our Food-grade Product List →

Exploring Uses for Food-safe Silicone Spray

Food-grade silicone lubricants are frequently offered as sprays, which makes application quick, precise, and versatile. These sprays create a thin film that reduces friction between moving parts, preventing wear and tear while maintaining a clean, relatively dry surface.

Unlike oil-based lubricants, silicone sprays don’t attract dust or debris, making them a smart choice for food production lines. They’re especially effective in high-friction, low-load applications involving unlike materials. In these situations, silicone spray ensures smooth movement without the sticking or tearing that could halt production.

Typical Applications in Food and Beverage Operations

As a humectant, propylene glycol helps retain moisture in food products for freshness and texture. In baked goods, for example, this means cakes and cookies stay soft and moist longer. Interestingly, this same property is also used in skincare products, where propylene glycol attracts and retains moisture to keep skin hydrated.

• Conveyors: Reduces drag between boxes and metal, ensuring smooth flow down production lines.
• Slow Rotating Machinery: Keeps gears and moving parts running consistently without excessive wear.
• Small, Slow-speed Bearings: Provides lubrication without the mess or buildup of traditional grease.
• Pivot Points: Ensures components like hinges and levers move freely, minimizing downtime.

At Keller-Heartt, we proudly offer Cassida Silicone Fluid aerosol cans, a popular high-performance option for food and beverage facilities. This fully synthetic, multipurpose fluid delivers thermal stability up to 250°C, plus:

• Excellent adhesive properties to minimize fling-off and wash-off during cleaning
• Water displacement to protect machinery during sanitation cycles
• Compatibility with metal-to-non-metal or non-metal-to-non-metal surfaces

Most importantly, Cassida Silicone Fluid is registered by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for both direct contact (Class 3H) and incidental contact (Class H1), making it one of the safest, most versatile silicone lubricants on the market.

The Benefits of Food-Grade Silicone Lubricant

Why should your operation choose a food-grade silicone lubricant over other options? Beyond compliance, the advantages keep on coming:

#1. Certified Safety

NSF H1 lubricants are approved for incidental food contact, while NSF 3H products are approved for direct food contact. As mentioned earlier, Cassida Silicone Fluid and some other food-grade products cover both, giving peace of mind and meeting industry regulations. 

#2. Water Resistance

Food and beverage facilities undergo frequent washdowns with hot water and cleaning agents. Food-grade silicone lubricant resists wash-off, ensuring equipment stays lubricated even after sanitation.

#3. Temperature Tolerance

From cold conveyor belts to ovens running at high temperatures, food-grade silicone lubricants remain stable and effective.

#4. Corrosion Protection

When applied during equipment storage, silicone creates a protective barrier that prevents rust and extends machinery lifespan.

#5. Equipment Longevity

Reducing friction means reducing wear, which ultimately extends the life of equipment. Fewer breakdowns equal lower maintenance costs and greater production efficiency.

#6. Ease of Cleaning

By preventing food from sticking to surfaces, silicone reduces cleanup time and helps maintain hygiene standards.

Is Food-Grade Silicone Safe?

Yes—food-grade silicone lubricants are rigorously tested and certified as safe for human consumption. They’re non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and chemically stable, making them one of the most reliable options in the industry.

A big part of that assurance comes from certification by the NSF. This independent regulatory body sets strict public health and safety standards. Achieving NSF certification isn’t just a label—it’s proof that the lubricant has gone through comprehensive evaluation.

Here’s what that process involves:

• Chemical Composition Analysis: NSF examines the ingredients to verify that no harmful substances are present and that the lubricant meets strict safety standards for use in food environments.
• Physical Property Testing: NSF evaluates important factors like viscosity, temperature stability, and resistance to breakdown. Lubricants must hold up under real-world conditions such as heat, cold, and mechanical stress.
• Performance Testing: NSF assesses how well the lubricant functions in operating conditions, including exposure to high temperatures, water, and cleaning chemicals. This ensures the product can protect machinery while still being safe around food.

Only lubricants that pass all of these tests are granted NSF certification.

Food-Grade Products to Support Your Facility

At Keller-Heartt, we know food and beverage facilities rely on more than just one product. That’s why we carry a full line of food-safe lubricants designed to keep operations efficient and compliant. 

In addition to food-safe silicone sprays, here are some of our most popular options:

Cassida Grease SGG 000

A semi-fluid grease designed for enclosed stationary gearboxes, formulated with synthetic PAO base fluids and aluminum complex thickener. NSF-certified and built for maximum protection in demanding food environments.

FM KRYSTALL Food-Grade Penetrating & Flushing Oil

A lightweight penetrating lubricant and cleaner, perfect for loosening stuck parts and flushing debris while meeting strict food safety standards.

TRUEGARD FM Gear 320 Oil

A food-safe airline lubricant with emulsifiers, detergents, and dispersants to maintain clean, efficient machinery. NSF H1 certified for incidental food contact.

Cassida Fluid HF 32 Hydraulic Oil

Part of a line of high-performance, anti-wear multipurpose lubricants available in multiple viscosities. NSF H1 certified and produced under strict ISO and HACCP quality standards.

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Looking for Food-Grade Silicone Lubricants?

When it comes to protecting your equipment and ensuring food safety, cutting corners is not an option. Keller-Heartt provides trusted, safe, non-toxic lubricants backed by decades of expertise in the food and beverage industry.

Whether you’re searching for food-safe silicone spray, hydraulic oil, or gearbox grease, our experts can help you choose the right product for your facility. Order online for free shipping on every order, or contact us directly to ask about bulk discounts and personalized recommendations.