Food-grade lubricants

ABSTRACT

The food and beverages industry is being shaped by a growing global population. In today's world, transnational companies have manufacturing operations that are spread across the world. It is, thus, not surprising that food supply chains and food manufacturing processes have become increasingly complex. Food-grade lubricants are utilized throughout the food processing supply chain. In mature countries, they have been used in food packaging and bottling plants for quite some time. In Europe, it is increasingly required that the machinery and equipment utilized in food manufacturing plants be deemed safe for food contact. Lubricants in the food processing industry were first formally regulated in the 1970s. The US Department of Agriculture approved lubricants used in meat and poultry plants on the basis of guidelines set by the Food and Drug Administration in keeping with the Code of Federal Regulation.