325
E. 10th St. Halstead KS. 67056325
E. 10th St. Halstead KS. 67056
800-835-1003 Fax 316-835-3218
FDA vs. USDA
FDA Conveyor
Belting
It
is our understanding that you cannot simply obtain approval from the USDA for a
belt. They have to approve the
entire operation, conveyor, belt, idlers, load point, environment, cleaning procedures
etc.
The FDA does not, to the best of our knowledge, give FDA approval, per
se', for conveyor belting. It is our understanding, in matters relating only to food
items, that it only gives approval to products that will be consumed by humans
or consumed by animals that will eventually be consumed by humans.
They do however have a governing say in the processing of food items.
It is our understanding that conveyor belting has to be manufactured
using products that are called out by the FDA as safe to come in
contact with human food items, or items consumed by food animals.
Our FDA belts are manufactured utilizing Polymers and additives that have
been
called out by the FDA as acceptable for continuous contact with human food
items.
It is our understanding that SBR and NBR rubber compounds have been
approved by the FDA for use in the handling of human food items and animal feed
providing they contain only items that are approved by FDA. The problems
usually arise with adding cure agents and processors such as aromatic oils.
It
is also our understanding that the FDA has approved polyester and nylon for the handling
of such food items. Thus, our Food
Grade Belting is indeed Food Grade to the best of our knowledge and
understanding in this matter. FDA document Title 21, 177.2600, is
available at the below link, if you're craving some nice dry reading.
If
you have any questions please contact us. The
FDA is a very complex entity, if you do not agree with our understanding, or
would like to add additional information please contact us.
Any help we can get in clarification of their rulings is always very much
appreciated.