FDA-Compliant & Food-Safe Parts for the Food, Beverage, & Packaging Industries

FDA-compliant plastics meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules for food-contact materials, including limits on what can migrate into food under defined conditions. For bearings, guides and wear parts this means the base polymer and additives are approved for use in food zones. Suppliers like igus® offer FDA-compliant triboplastics that are tested, documented and suitable for use in food packaging, beverage and processing equipment.

EU Regulation 10/2011 sets requirements for plastics that contact food in the European Union, similar in scope to FDA rules in the U.S. Many global OEMs look for parts that are both FDA-compliant and EU 10/2011-compliant so the same component works in multiple markets. Igus offers several iglide® A-series materials and FDA/EU-approved drylin® linear guides that satisfy both standards.

Typical FDA-compliant options include plain bearings, linear guides, conveyor rollers, knife-edge rollers, tribotape® liners, lead screw assemblies and pillow block housings. These parts are used in form-fill-seal machines, filling lines, conveyors and packaging robots near open product or splash zones. Igus maintains a broad portfolio of FDA-compliant iglide® bearings, drylin® linear systems, xiros® rollers and tribotape®, all based on dry-running, wear-resistant polymers.

FDA-compliant materials are most common in direct food-contact areas, drip zones above product and splash zones on food and beverage equipment. Examples include guide bushings, scraper blades, star wheels, change parts and conveyor rollers that touch packaging or exposed product. Non-contact zones may still use standard engineering plastics, but many plants prefer to keep FDA/EU-approved materials throughout high-risk sections to simplify audits.

Yes. Many modern FDA-compliant plastics are self-lubricating tribopolymers that run dry and still deliver long service life. Igus FDA/EU-certified materials for iglide® plain bearings and drylin® linear systems are designed to be dry-running, maintenance-free, wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant, which reduces grease points around food zones. This helps plants cut both contamination risk and lubrication labor at the same time.

Growing restrictions on PFAS and PTFE are pushing many plants to review which plastics they use in food and packaging machinery. Engineers now look for PFAS-tested and PTFE-free materials that still offer good wear and low friction. Igus has developed PTFE-free, PFAS-tested iglide® materials such as JPF and publishes PFAS information so customers can align with new regulations and sustainability goals.

Blue and detectable plastics help inspection teams spot fragments before they leave the plant. Magnetically or metal-detectable components near product make it easier for metal detectors and X-ray systems to catch small pieces of broken parts. Igus offers detectable igubal® FC spherical components and blue FDA-compliant materials for bearings and rollers that support HACCP and foreign-material control strategies.

Custom bushings, guides, stars, funnels and wear strips can be made from FDA-compliant polymers using CNC machining, 3D printing or injection molding. This lets designers match complex geometries while still meeting food-contact requirements. Igus supports this with custom parts services, 3D-printing service and machined parts from FDA/EU-approved bar and plate stock, so compliant components can be tailored to each machine.

Food and packaging customers typically request material data sheets, FDA and EU 10/2011 conformity statements, migration information and sometimes PFAS/PTFE declarations. These documents are used in internal material reviews, validation packages and external audits. Igus provides certificates and technical data for its FDA-compliant and PFAS-tested materials so engineers can attach them directly to HACCP and quality records

Selection should start with zone classification (contact, splash, non-contact) and required standards such as FDA, EU 10/2011 and PFAS guidelines. From there, engineers compare temperature limits, chemical resistance, wear behavior and moisture absorption of available materials. Igus groups its iglide® A-series and related FDA materials by use case, and offers service-life calculators and test data, so designers can pick the material that fits both compliance and performance needs