How to choose high-quality food-grade silicone products?

How to choose high-quality food grade silicone products? In daily life, food grade silicone products can be seen everywhere, such as baby pacifiers, silicone kitchenware, baking molds, etc. They are highly favored by consumers due to their softness, high temperature resistance, and ease of cleaning. However, the quality of silicone products on the market varies greatly, and if low-quality products are not carefully selected, they may pose a threat to health. So, how to choose high-quality food grade silicone products?

1. Check the authentication label

Legitimate food grade silicone products will pass relevant authoritative certifications, which is an important basis for judging their quality. Common certification marks include FDA certification in the United States and LFGB certification in the European Union.

FDA certification is a safety certification for food contact materials in the United States. Obtaining this certification for silicone products means that they meet the safety standards for food contact materials in the United States and will not release harmful substances into food under normal use. LFGB certification is the EU's strict certification standard for food contact materials, with more stringent requirements and covering more testing items. When purchasing, carefully check whether there are these certification marks on the product packaging or instructions. If not, the safety of the product is questionable and it is not recommended to purchase. For example, a high-quality silicone nipple is usually clearly labeled with FDA or LFGB certification marks on the product, allowing parents to buy with confidence.

2. Observe the appearance and texture
High quality food grade silicone products often have distinct features in appearance. Firstly, the color should be uniform and natural, without being too bright, dazzling, or unevenly distributed. This is because inferior silicone may add a large amount of pigments to cover up the defects of the raw materials, while high-quality silicone uses natural or safe pigments with soft and uniform colors.
Secondly, the surface should be smooth and flat, without obvious bubbles, impurities, burrs, or cracks. You can gently touch the surface of the product with your hand to feel its texture. High quality silicone has a soft and elastic feel, and can quickly return to its original state after pressing; Poor quality silicone may have a rough feel, poor elasticity, slow recovery after pressing, and even leave obvious indentations. For example, when selecting a silicone cake mold, if bubbles or cracks are found on the surface of the mold, it not only affects the appearance, but may also cause leakage and other problems during the baking process, affecting the production effect of the cake.

3. Judging by smell
Food grade silicone itself is odorless or only has a faint silicone smell, and does not emit pungent chemical odors. When purchasing, you can get close to the product and smell it. If there is a strong pungent smell, it is likely that inferior raw materials have been used or harmful chemicals have been added. Such products must not be purchased.
Some unscrupulous merchants, in order to reduce costs, may use recycled silicone or add some inferior additives, which can produce harmful gases during the production process and remain in the products. When products come into contact with food, these harmful substances may migrate into the food, posing a threat to human health. For example, if a newly purchased silicone tableware has a pungent odor that persists even after multiple washes, it indicates that the product's quality is not up to standard.

4. Test performance characteristics
High temperature resistance: Food grade silicone products need to have good high temperature resistance, generally able to withstand a temperature range of -40 ℃ to 230 ℃. Silicone products can be frozen in the refrigerator for a period of time, then taken out and boiled in boiling water for a few minutes to observe whether they have deformed, softened, faded, and other conditions. If the product can still maintain good performance under these extreme temperature conditions, it indicates that its high temperature resistance is good. For example, silicone baking tools used in high-temperature ovens are prone to deformation or even melting if their high-temperature resistance is poor, which affects safety during use.
Tear resistance: High quality food grade silicone has good tear resistance and is not easily pulled apart. You can gently pull the edges or weak areas of the product with your hands to feel its elasticity and toughness. If the product is easily broken, it indicates poor quality and may have a short service life. For example, silicone gloves require frequent stretching during use, and if their tear resistance is poor, they are easily damaged, affecting the user experience.
Cleanliness: Food grade silicone products should be easy to clean and not prone to residual stains. You can apply some oil stains or sauce on the surface of the product, then rinse it with water and observe if it is easy to clean. High quality silicone has a smooth surface, making it difficult for stains to adhere. It can be easily cleaned with a gentle rinse; Poor quality silicone may have a rough surface, making it easy for stains to penetrate and difficult to thoroughly clean.