Food Safe

Also see 3D Printing and Horticulture (Gowning Plants).

Best Design Practices:

• Avoid sharp corners and instead use smooth edges

• 3D print without supports if possible

• Smooth surfaces prevent bacterial growth

Food Safe Filaments

Filaments consist of: Bulk material + 1.2% Masterbatch (+Additives).

Filaments should come with a material safety data sheet (MSDS), that breaks down the chemical properties and will specify whether it is FDA (or EMA) approved or food safe. Food-grade certified filaments will likely be marked as such on the packaging. Verify each filament being used is food-safe. Similar products even from the same manufacturer might not be food-safe. This even means the same filament type in a different color is not guaranteed to be food-safe. Smooth materials are more food-safe.

Filaments:

Bulk Materials that might be food safe:

• PLA without additives - deficient heat properties for Cleaning Machines

• PETG - deficient heat properties for Cleaning Machines

• Nylon Natural grade

• Polypropylene

Not Food Safe:

• ABS

Pre-Print:

Contamination can occur before or during the printing process. Clean the Extruder.

1. Verify you are using a food-safe Nozzle. Stainless Steel nozzles are recommended, check FDA and EMA guidelines.

2. Clean the Rollers.

3. Use Food-Safe Lubricants.

4. Check for Stringing inside the Bowden Tube (Teflon Tube) from the previous Filaments (Material) Overview if it was non-food-safe. Test by doing a test print, with a color that contrasts with the previous non-food-safe filament.

Post-Print:

Epoxy Resin is food-safe and can improve the Performance Properties for; Strength, Thermal Resistance, and Smooth the Surface.

Supporting Documentation

Videos:

• About food safe 3D printing

• Smoothing 3D printed object from Polysmooth™ for better cleaning - is it food safe?

• Testing antibacterial and antimicrobial filaments from food safety aspect

Articles:

• Food Safe FDM Materials (Food Safe Filaments)