The best way to tell the difference of LFGB and FDA food silicone products?

The main purpose of Food-grade silicone is used for the manufacturing of food-contact products. Food grade silicone is a type of silicone that is safe for use with foods. Silicone is used frequently in making molds to use for food that begins as liquids and solidify. It is non-toxic; does not stain food, dishes or cookware; is easily removed from cast objects; and is safe for use on various plastic objects.

Food grade silicone is non-toxic and odorless, environmentally friendly – contains no BPA, Latex, Lead, Phthalates and is biodegradable, long-term use, and other characteristics. Food-grade silicone is platinum cured with high elasticity, high transparency, and high tear strength. It meets the FDA and other environmental requirements. It is safe to contact food directly.

Food-grade silicone is a versatile and robust man-made synthetic polymer, made up primarily of non-toxic silica.

Known for its unique features, food-grade silicone is resistant to extreme temperatures, stresses and environments. Food-grade silicone is commonly used for a wide range of purposes within the food and beverage sector, replacing more traditional options such as rubber.

FDA compliance signifies that the material is safe for direct contact with food, making food-grade silicone an ideal tool to be used within the manufacturing, packing, packaging, transport or holding of food.

There are two testing standards for Silicone that can be sold that are considered food grade.

For silicone food-grade products, there are mainly two standards, one is LFGB food grade, another is FDA food grade. Silicone products that pass either one of these tests are safe for human use.  LFGB is standard mainly for Europe, while FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is the base level standard in the USA and Australia. Most countries have their own FDA standard, but the USA FDA is the most internationally applied. In terms of pricing,  products in LFGB standard will be more expensive than FDA standard,  so FDA is more widely used.  This is because LFGB method of testing is more comprehensive and strict.

 In the US & Australia, the minimum standard for silicone products is ‘FDA’ testing (Food & Drug Administration standard).

Silicone products sold in Europe except for Germany & France must meet the European Food Contact Regulations – 1935/2004/EC.

Silicone products sold in Germany & France must meet ‘LFGB’ testing regulations which are the toughest of all standards – this type of silicone material must pass more intensive testing, is of better quality and is, therefore, more expensive. It is also known as ‘Platinum Silicone’.

“The LFBG (Lebensmittel-, Bedarfsgegenstände-und Futtermittelgesetzbuch, or “Foods, Consumer Goods and Feedstuffs Code”) is sometimes thought to be the European equivalent of the FDA. This is not quite correct. The LFGB is the German enactment of European law as operated by the Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR). The BfR recommendations for food-contact materials are some of the more comprehensive in the EU”. Reference.

The mark “Knife and fork” is a symbol of food safety. For food contact material, if there is a “knife and fork” symbol, it means that the product has passed the inspection raised by a number of European countries including Germany.

Here as a Manufacturer of molded Silicone products. The best and simplest way to tell the difference between LFGB and FDA food silicone products：

Pull harder or Twist：

Both hands pull hard on both sides or Twist. If there is white, it is FDA food Grade silicone products. If there is no white, it is LFGB food Silicone products

Contact Z.S.R if you have any molded silicone products that need to be customized.