An Introduction to Food-Grade Hoses
Food and beverage companies must comply with strict standards that indicate the type of equipment they can use for their production operations. These requirements and restrictions are enforced to ensure the safety of consumers, as the wrong equipment can lead to product contamination. They may apply to the entire piece of equipment as well as to the individual components, such as the transfer hoses.
In the United States, food-grade hoses must be designed and built to the specifications outlined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This ensures they allow for the clean and safe transfer of food materials. While these components come in numerous variations, differing with regard to size, pressure rating and temperature rating to suit different customer needs, they also have some common characteristics.
Below, we highlight the shared characteristics of food-grade hoses as well as outline some of their typical applications.
Key Characteristics of Food-Grade Hoses
Food-grade hoses are made from flexible materials, such as polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or thermoplastic rubber. Additionally, they typically have an internal helical wire made from spring steel or stainless steel that provides strength and durability to the overall assembly. While they may look like other types of hoses, they differ from them in the following ways:
- Non-toxic, non-metal construction. Metal components are susceptible to corrosion, which can lead to product contamination during production operations. Plastics and rubbers offer an inherent resistance to corrosion, making them ideal for equipment used in food and beverage operations.
- Excellent durability. Food-grade hoses are designed to withstand the harsh conditions found in food processing facilities (e.g., high temperatures and pressures). As a result, they are often more durable than other types of hoses.
- Pressure capacity. Many food processing operations rely on the maintenance of various pressure conditions. Quality food-grade hoses are capable of achieving and sustaining specific pressure and vacuum levels as needed.
- Odorless/tasteless design. Food-grade hoses are engineered to not add any odors, contamination or flavors to the conveyed material, which helps maintain the integrity of the final product’s taste and aroma.
Typical Applications of Food-Grade Hoses
In food processing applications, food-grade hoses are generally used to transport bulk dry food materials, such as cereal, flour and sugar. They are also used in pharmaceutical production operations to transport capsules and tablets. In both cases, our food-grade hoses are made with FDA-acceptable materials and, if necessary, USDA standards for food contact.
These hoses can be cut to different lengths and fitted with various fittings. This customizability ensures the hose assembly meets the equipment and operation requirements.
Food-grade hoses are a critical element of many food processing operations. Need quality hose components for your food production facility? Turn to the hose experts at US Hose today!
Our food-grade hoses are suitable for any light material handling operation involving solid foods and powders. While they come in a variety of materials and sizes, all of them are made with FDA-acceptable materials. Typical applications for these hose products include:
- Food factory venting
- Cereal manufacturing
- Cosmetic manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Sugar manufacturing
- Flour manufacturing
- Spices manufacturing
- Tablet manufacturing