Chevron food grade oils are lubricants used in the food industry. These light grade oils can get into contact with human food because of leaks, excess lubrication, or during routine maintenance of food making machines. Food grade oils or greases qualify to be NSF H1 food-grade lubricants when at least 10mg of the oil per kilogram of food doesn’t cause any physiological problem to the consumer or cause any bad taste or odor. Chevron food grade oils are classified according to the NSF International Standards, and there are five categories of food-grade oils, which include: H1, H2, 3H, H3, and HT1.
This post presents to you the five conventional Chevron food grade oils used in most food industries.
H1 – Lubricating Oils with Incidental Foodstuff Contact
These are oil preparations used as antirust agents that also act as lubricants. They may also get used as tank closure seals or as release agents in gaskets where there is possible incidental food contact. These formulations of such oils should comply with CFR, Title 21 Section 178.3570 of the food-grade oil standards. The formulations should also include one or more approved thickeners, additives, or base-stocks.
H2 – Lubricating Oils That Don’t Get Into Contact With Food
These are food grade white oils that get used on machine parts and equipment that don’t get into contact with edible products. These oils have no set list of acceptable ingredients because there is no risk of such oils getting in touch with edibles. But they shouldn’t contain mineral acids, teratogens, mutagens, carcinogens, and heavy metals such as selenium, mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic.
3H – Release Gents
The 3H Chevron food grade oils get used on chopping boards, boning benches, cutters, loaf pans, grills, and other hard surfaces that get into contact with poultry and meat. These oils prevent the food from getting sticky during processing.
H3 – Soluble or Edible Oil
These are food grade oils that are used on trolleys, hooks, and other food equipment to prevent rust. The oils may also be used as a protective coating for foodstuffs and release agents in bakeries. The H3 food-grade oils may be made of edible oils from soybeans, cottonseed, or corn.
These oils should comply with the 21 CFR section 172.860 of the food-grade oil standards. The oils may also contain mineral oils. The mineral oil should comply with 21 CFR, Section 172,878, and GRAS substances that comply with 21 CFR, 182 standards.
HT1 – Heat Transfer Oils with Incidental Food Contact
The HT1 Chevron food grade oils serve as heat transfer oils in secondary and primary cooling and heating systems in food processing equipment and facilities. The oil formulations in this category where food contact is possible must comply with the CFR, Title 21, Section 178.3570 of the food-grade oil standards. The ingredients of such formulations must also follow CFR Title 21, Part 172 of the same rules.
Food Grade Oil Standards and Compliance Issues
All food grade oils should comply with the NSF International H1 standards that replaced the old USDA system of standards. These oils should also meet the technical qualifications set in the Federal Register, FDA 21 CFR, 178.3570. They should also meet the FDA standards for materials that are used in processing food.
The greatest concentration of such oils in food should not exceed ten parts per million. When buying such oils, it’s also advisable to check whether they’ve gotten certified under the Pareve, Kosher, and Halal certification standards. Such standards are a mark of good quality for some groups of people and populations that consume food produced in processing equipment and plants that use such food-grade oils.
The U.S. is the global leader in oil production and consumption. It produces about 18% of the global oil share, and part of this share goes to food-grade oils. The food-grade oils provide perfect lubrication for equipment. They also provide corrosion and rust inhibition. These oils need to have high oxidation and thermal stability. But above all, you should ensure that these food grade white oils meet the food industry standards set by the FDA and NSF International H1 standards.
