Europe has the strictest guidelines for food grade ink. There are 19 US states that prohibit excessive heavy metal content in food grade ink because heavy metals are considered unhealthy for human consumption. Anything that contains food that humans consume should be safe.
Food Grade Ink Usage
Food manufacturers use food grade ink for several purposes.
- As decoration
- To trace and track
- Batch coding
- Dating
- Use by, sell by, or expiry dates
Some food grade ink isn’t visible to the human eye. This is called UV ink, which is only visible under special UV light emitted from UV scanners.
Food grade ink isn’t certified or regulated by the FDA, as you might think. Other than the safe practices guidelines under the FDA, GRAS (generally recognized as safe), the food grade ink industry isn’t tightly regulated.
What are the traits of food grade ink?
Since the ink used to mark and code edible food products and packaging must at least fall under GRAS guidelines, there are specific ingredients and formulations that exist for it. Inkjet printing is the accepted process for printing upon edible food products.
Different types of food and packaging require that the ink be smear resistant, and have the ideal viscosity, surface tension, solubility, and drying time. The chemical makeup of the fluid and the ink are the only two constants for making industrial inkjet food grade ink. Just like adjustments must be made for creating food grade inks according to the surface upon which printing occurs, different inkjet printers are chosen according to the type of printing process.
Food grade ink is run through several stringent compatibility and safety tests before it is used for printing. It is tested for its water levels to prevent problems with smearing and for harmful substances that could potentially cause health issues and cause manufacturer numerous problems. They consider aspects in these areas that go beyond what the average person would consider. Things we wouldn’t think about being a problem, they factor into their testing, even if it’s almost impossible. Nothing is considered impossible in this industry.
The Uses for Food Grade Ink
- Directly printing on foods like fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats, and other produce and dairy products.
- Cartons and cardboard containers used to house food you see on grocery store shelves.
- Film packaging and plastic bags, trays, and pouches.
- Beverage and food cans that contain sauces, juices, soda, fruits, vegetables, and other canned foods.
- Glass bottles with juice, sauces, and other edible items.
These are things all consumers should know about their food before buying and consuming it. Do some research to learn more about how your country, territory, state, or region handles food grade ink guidelines for the safety of yourself and your family.
About the Author
Erryn Deane – https://www.needham-ink.com/
Erryn is the digital business manager for The Needham Group of companies, with a wealth of knowledge in laser marking systems, amongst many other things, he has decades of experience in online development, business analysis and management. In his spare time, he likes to find out how things work and looks to improve them, from vehicles to electronics or even musical instruments.