Why is Silicone a Preferred FDA Approved Rubber for Commercial and Domestic Use? (2024)

“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the oldest comprehensive consumer protection agency in the U.S. federal government” (http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WhatWeDo/History/default.htm). With its roots stemming all the way back to its origins in 1848, the agency has grown to take part in every American citizen’s day to day life with FDA approved rubber products serving as just one example of this involvement. A food grade elastomer, such as the much preferred silicone, is used in the preparation and handling of food goods domestically as well as commercially.

There are many reasons as to why silicone is a preferred elastomer for applications where consumables are involved, the most notable of which may be its stability throughout a wide temperature range. FDA rubber parts made of silicone can withstand high temperatures of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit! This would of course come in handy whenever the oven, stove, or a microwave is needed for cooking or baking. This food grade elastomer can also withstand very cold temperatures, going as low as -103 degrees Fahrenheit.

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As an FDA approved rubber, silicone also has great chemical resistance to many common chemicals and oils that are used in areas where consumables may be handled or prepared. Examples of this are Acetic Acid, Ammonia Gas (hot and cold), Corn Oil, Fish Oil, Lime Sulfur, Methyl Ether, Ozone, Sodium Sulfate, Tartaric Acid, Vinegar, and the list goes on and on. These resistances make silicone ideal for cooking or preparing food because the product will not be tainted or damaged by the oils and greases used.

Some of the other inherent qualities of silicone also add to the desire for FDA rubber parts to be made from this elastomer. Silicone is a generally flexible rubber that offers moderate pliability and elasticity. It also has a color option other than the traditional black, white! White silicone is often preferred for food related applications because it aids to the feeling of cleanliness that is needed and associated with consumables. Regardless of the size of your kitchen or whether you are cooking at home or in a restaurant, cleanliness is universally regarded as one the most highly important and fundamental goals of cooking and preparing food. With white silicone products it is easy to keep the area in which you are preparing food clean and free of any possible contaminants.

FDA approved rubber products are used in kitchens, equipment, and machines that are intended for repeated use in contact with food and that are compliant with CFR 177.2600, an FDA regulation that deals specifically with any food grade elastomer. Our FDA approved rubber silicone sheets and products meet all of the requirements outlined in this regulation and have all of the outlined characteristics that make this elastomer such an obvious and easy choice for any applications where consumables are present. This food grade elastomer passes all of the tests for large and small scale kitchen requirements and explains why silicone is the preferred “go-to” rubber for any commercial or domestic purpose!