Quality & documentation
Food-Contact Materials
Food-contact evidence attaches to each material in the product, the foods it touches and the conditions of use, not to the product name. A kitchen tool is usually several materials, so the document pack is built component by component.
Evidence by material
Most kitchen tools combine a metal part with a polymer, wood or coating. Each needs its own evidence, and a report for one does not cover another.
| Material | Typical evidence | Points to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel (304, 430) | Mill certificate for the grade; metals release testing where the market or buyer requires it. | The grade suits the foods and cleaning. 430 is more vulnerable to salt and acid. |
| Plastics (PP, nylon, ABS) | Migration testing against the market's plastics rules; a declaration of compliance. | The resin grade and every colourant; a new colour can mean a new test. |
| Silicone and rubber | Extractives or migration testing for repeated-use articles. | The formulation and curing; heat limits for the stated use. |
| Wood and bamboo | Buyer- or market-specific checks on treatments and finishes. | Oils, lacquers and glues in the contact path. |
| Coatings, plating and decoration | Separate evidence for the coating, not just the base material. | Whether decoration is near the food-contact surface. |
For plastics in the EU the overall migration limit is set by Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 10/2011: "Plastic materials and articles shall not transfer their constituents to food simulants in quantities exceeding 10 milligrams of total constituents released per dm2 of food contact surface (mg/dm2)."
The framework by market
- EU: the European Commission states that "all food contact materials must comply with Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004", with good manufacturing practice under Regulation 2023/2006. Germany adds LFGB and BfR recommendations, which BfR itself says are "not legal norms" but reflect the state of the art.
- United States: the FDA assesses status substance by substance: "the overall regulatory status of a food contact material is dictated by the regulatory status of each individual substance that comprises the article".
- Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand: see the Great Britain, Canada and Australia pages.
When evidence needs renewing
Evidence covers a specific formulation made by a specific supplier. Ask before changing any of the following, because each can require new testing:
- A different resin, silicone compound or coating.
- A new colour or colourant, even on the same material.
- A change of component supplier or factory.
- A new use claim, such as dishwasher safe, oven safe or suitable for hot oil.
What to send us
- The product reference and sample version, or a drawing number and revision.
- Every component that touches food, with its material: stainless grade, polymer, silicone, wood, coating or decoration.
- The foods it will meet and the conditions: temperature, contact time, repeated or single use, dishwasher or hand wash.
- The country of sale and the sales channel, plus your buyer's document checklist if they have one.
- Whether the request covers the current configuration or a proposed change.
Testing at an accredited laboratory commonly takes two to four weeks once a representative sample exists, so build it into the schedule. The food-contact buyer guide covers the document pack in detail.
Official guidance
Sources checked 21 September 2026. Requirements depend on the actual product and intended use.