FAQ

Introduction

Food contact materials, such as pizza knives, must undergo rigorous testing to ensure they do not transfer harmful substances into food, complying with international food safety standards like LFGB and EU regulations (e.g., (EC) No 1935/2004). This guide outlines the process for LFGB food-grade testing for pizza knives and recommends Ningbo Huabiao Testing Co., Ltd. as a professional testing agency.

Core Requirements

• Product Information: Name, model, materials (e.g., stainless steel blade, plastic handle), and batch details.

• Regulations: Compliance with LFGB and EU (EC) No 1935/2004.

• Responsible Party: Manufacturer or importer details.

• Test Report: Results from an LFGB-accredited laboratory.

• Compliance Declaration: Confirms food safety compliance.

Testing Process

1. Product Classification: Identify material composition and applicable LFGB regulations.

2. Sample Preparation: Submit samples identical to the final product, including blade, handle, and packaging.

3. Laboratory Testing:

• Chemical migration testing (e.g., heavy metals, phthalates).

• Sensory testing (odor and taste).

• Material composition analysis (e.g., food-safe stainless steel, BPA-free plastics).

4. Report Review: Verify compliance with LFGB and EU standards.

5. Compliance Declaration: Issue a declaration based on test results.

6. Ongoing Compliance: Update testing for regulatory or product changes.

Recommended Testing Agency

Ningbo Huabiao Testing Co., Ltd.:

• LFGB-accredited laboratory.

• Expertise in EU export compliance for kitchen tools.

• Comprehensive services from testing to compliance declarations.

• Efficient, cost-effective localized support.

Conclusion

Huabiao Testing provides reliable LFGB testing solutions for pizza knives, with CMA/CNAS-accredited data and internationally recognized reports, ensuring global market success.

With increasing global attention to environmental protection and human health, SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) testing has become increasingly vital across industries. For many manufacturers, understanding the SVHC list update cycle and relevant industry compliance requirements has become essential. Today, the editor from Huabiao Testing shares insights on which country uses LFGB and how to obtain LFGB certification for baking molds.

Which Country Uses LFGB Testing?

LFGB testing primarily applies to Germany, where it is a regulatory requirement under the German Food and Commodities Act for food contact materials and articles. As Germany is a member of the European Union, LFGB test reports are often recognized by other EU countries as proof of compliance with relevant safety standards, allowing products to be sold in the EU market. However, LFGB test reports are not applicable in the United States, which has its own food contact material testing requirements, such as FDA regulations.

How to Obtain LFGB Certification for Baking Molds?

1. Consult a Professional Certification Agency: Start by contacting a professional certification agency, such as Ningbo Huabiao Testing, to inquire about specific LFGB certification requirements and the necessary documentation. Typically, you will need to provide basic documents such as product manuals, material composition lists, production process descriptions, and laboratory test reports proving compliance with LFGB standards.

2. Submit Samples: Send samples of the baking molds to the certification agency. The agency will conduct tests according to LFGB standards, including sensory testing (odor and taste) and chemical migration testing, to ensure that no harmful substances migrate into food during use.

3. Receive the Test Report and Certification: Upon completion of testing, the certification agency will issue a test report. If the results meet LFGB standards, they will provide an LFGB certification certificate. With this certification, you can label your product with the LFGB certification mark, enhancing brand image and customer trust.

Huabiao Testing, with its experienced technical team and advanced testing equipment, offers comprehensive LFGB testing solutions. Accredited with CMA/CNAS qualifications, our test data is accurate and reliable, and our test reports carry international credibility. We help clients manage risks, meet market requirements, and ensure their products succeed globally.

With growing global attention to environmental protection and human health, SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) testing has become increasingly critical across various industries. For many manufacturers, understanding the update cycle of the SVHC list and compliance requirements for relevant industries has become essential. Today, the editor from Huabiao Testing shares insights on food contact material testing and the process for handling LFGB testing for dough mixer inner liners.

What is Food Contact Material Testing?

Food contact material testing involves safety assessments of materials and articles that may come into direct or indirect contact with food. These materials include packaging, containers, or transport materials made from paper, bamboo, wood, metal, enamel, ceramics, plastics, rubber, natural fibers, chemical fibers, glass, and coatings that directly contact food or food additives. The primary goal of testing is to ensure that these materials do not transfer harmful substances to food under normal use conditions, thereby safeguarding consumer health.

The scope of food contact material testing typically includes migration testing, composition analysis of packaging materials, heavy metal and hazardous substance testing, physical performance testing, and microbial and contaminant testing. These tests aim to ensure that:

• Chemical substances in food contact materials do not migrate into food.

• Packaging materials do not contain prohibited substances or exceed specified limits.

• Heavy metals and other hazardous substances do not enter the human body through food.

• The physical properties of materials, such as heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and scratch resistance, meet required standards.

When conducting food contact material testing, compliance with national and regional regulatory standards is essential. For example, Japan requires compliance with LWA 370 for food contact materials, while Germany adheres to LFGB (the German Food, Commodities, and Feed Code). Additionally, the European Union has relevant standards and regulations, such as EC 1935/2004.

How to Handle LFGB Testing for Dough Mixer Inner Liners?

1. Understand LFGB Certification Requirements

LFGB, the German Food, Tobacco Products, Cosmetics, and Other Commodities Management Act, imposes stringent safety requirements on products that come into contact with food. These requirements cover material composition, migration testing, and sensory testing (odor and taste).

2. Choose a Certification Agency

Ningbo Huabiao Testing, with its experienced technical team and advanced testing equipment, provides comprehensive LFGB testing solutions to help clients manage risks, meet market requirements, and ensure their products are competitive globally.

3. Submit Product Samples and Documentation

Submit samples of the dough mixer inner liner along with relevant technical documentation, such as product manuals and material composition lists, as required by the certification agency. These materials will be used for a comprehensive evaluation of the product.

4. Conduct Testing

The certification agency will test the submitted dough mixer inner liner samples, including material composition analysis, migration testing, and sensory testing. The testing process strictly adheres to LFGB regulations to ensure the accuracy and reliability of results.

5. Obtain the Test Report

If the product passes the tests, the certification agency will issue an official LFGB test report. This report certifies that the dough mixer inner liner complies with LFGB regulations and is suitable for sale in the German and EU markets.

Huabiao Testing, with its experienced technical team and advanced testing equipment, offers comprehensive LFGB testing solutions. Accredited with CMA/CNAS qualifications, our test data is accurate and reliable, and our test reports carry international credibility. We help clients manage risks, meet market requirements, and ensure their products succeed globally.

Introduction

Food safety is a critical concern that affects everyone. While we enjoy delicious meals, the safety of our dining experience is often safeguarded by unassuming food contact materials. Ensuring the safety of these materials requires testing by a professional and reliable agency. This guide explores LFGB testing, its importance, and the specific testing requirements for paper cups.

What is LFGB Testing?

LFGB testing is a safety evaluation of food contact materials conducted in accordance with the German Food, Tobacco Products, Cosmetics, and Other Consumer Goods Act (Lebensmittel-, Bedarfsgegenstände- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch, or LFGB). The purpose is to ensure that products, such as paper cups, do not pose health risks to consumers during use. LFGB testing focuses on the chemical safety of raw materials and their potential impact on food, ensuring compliance with German and EU food safety standards.

LFGB is widely recognized in Europe and aligns with EU Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, which sets general requirements for food contact materials. For paper cups, LFGB testing verifies that no harmful substances migrate into food, maintaining consumer safety and product compliance.

LFGB Testing Requirements for Paper Cups

LFGB testing for paper cups involves a series of assessments to evaluate chemical, sensory, and material safety. The key testing components include:

1. Overall Migration Testing

• Purpose: Measures the total amount of substances that may migrate from the paper cup into food under normal use conditions.

• Method: Simulates real-world scenarios using food simulants (e.g., distilled water for aqueous foods, 3% acetic acid for acidic foods, or 10–50% ethanol for alcoholic beverages) at specified temperatures and contact times.

• Limit: The overall migration must not exceed 10 mg/dm² (or 60 mg/kg of food) as per EU Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004.

• Equipment: Gravimetric analysis or chromatography techniques.

2. Specific Migration Testing

• Purpose: Evaluates the migration of specific hazardous substances, such as heavy metals (e.g., lead, cadmium), formaldehyde, or primary aromatic amines, into food.

• Method: Uses targeted analytical methods like inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for heavy metals or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for organic compounds.

• Limits: Must comply with specific migration limits (SMLs) set by LFGB and EU regulations (e.g., 0.05 mg/kg for formaldehyde, 0.01 mg/kg for primary aromatic amines).

• Focus: Ensures compliance with Annex I of Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 for plastic coatings, if applicable.

3. Sensory Testing

• Purpose: Assesses whether the paper cup affects the odor or taste of food, ensuring no alteration of sensory properties.

• Method: Conducted by trained sensory panels using standardized procedures (e.g., DIN 10955 or EN 1230-1). Paper cups are filled with food simulants, and evaluators check for off-odors or off-tastes.

• Requirement: No detectable sensory impact at levels that could affect consumer acceptance.

4. Packaging Coating and Ink Composition Analysis

• Purpose: Verifies that coatings and printing inks on the paper cup’s exterior are safe and do not contain harmful substances that could migrate into food.

• Method: Analyzes chemical composition using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify substances like bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, or azo dyes.

• Requirement: Must comply with LFGB and EU good manufacturing practices (GMP) under Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006. Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) are evaluated for safety.

Additional Considerations

• Material Composition: Tests the paper cup’s raw materials (e.g., paperboard, polyethylene lining) for compliance with LFGB Section 30 and 31 (prohibited substances).

• Microbial Safety: Ensures the cup does not promote bacterial growth, especially for prolonged use, using tests like ISO 22196.

• Recycled Materials: If recycled paper is used, additional testing for contaminants (e.g., mineral oils, MOSH/MOAH) is required per German BfR recommendations.

How to Conduct LFGB Testing for Paper Cups

1. Consult a Testing Agency
   Contact an accredited laboratory (e.g., Huabiao Testing) to discuss LFGB requirements and obtain a tailored testing plan. Provide product specifications, including material composition and intended use.

2. Submit Samples
   Provide 2–3 paper cup samples, along with details on coatings, inks, and manufacturing processes. Include any recycled material certifications, if applicable.

3. Testing Execution
   The laboratory conducts overall and specific migration tests, sensory evaluations, and composition analysis using advanced equipment (e.g., ICP-MS, GC-MS, HPLC). Tests align with LFGB, EU Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, and Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011.

4. Report Issuance
   Receive a detailed test report confirming compliance with LFGB standards. The report includes migration results, sensory findings, and composition analysis, suitable for submission to regulatory authorities or buyers.

Why Choose Huabiao Testing?

Huabiao Testing offers comprehensive LFGB testing solutions for paper cups with an experienced technical team and advanced equipment. Accredited with CMA/CNAS qualifications, our accurate and reliable testing data and internationally recognized reports help clients manage risks, meet market requirements, and achieve global market success.