What is a Food Grade Mineral Oil?
A food grade mineral oil is a refined crude oil that is safe for direct and/or indirect contact with food products. There are several different grades of mineral oil that designate what it can be used for. The different grades are Technical, National Formulary (NF), and United States Pharmacopeia (USP).
Each one of these grades is safe for indirect food contact use. Where Technical grade is safe for indirect contact, both NF and USP grade mineral oils are safe for direct food contact as well. This means that they can be used as a release agent to prevent food products from sticking during food processing.
How to Make a Food Grade Mineral Oil
To get these different mineral oil grades, you must start with crude oil. From the crude oil, there are three different processes used to refine it into a mineral oil. These processes are hydrocracking, isodewaxing, and solvent refining.
Hydrocracking is another catalytic process that uses hydrogen to break down and restructure large hydrocarbons into smaller, more valuable products with improved properties. Isodewaxing in mineral oil refining is a process using a catalyst that selectively removes undesirable waxes to improve the oil’s low-temperature properties.
For each grade—Technical, NF, and USP—you are looking for distinct levels of sulfur and aromatic rings to determine whether it is safe for indirect or direct contact with food. This is what determines if a mineral oil is food grade or not.
JAX White Mineral Oil
JAX White Mineral Oil is known for its purity and cleanliness, which is achieved through hydrocracking and isodewaxing. Tailored to specific needs, JAX offers White Mineral Oil in different grades, all crafted from top-quality base oils to yield a clear, tasteless, and odorless fluid. They provide exceptional color stability and resistance to thermal and oxidative degradation, ensuring longevity and reliability even under high temperature conditions.
Primarily utilized in the food industry, these oils serve a range of purposes, acting as anti-rust coatings, facilitating spray-down applications, and effectively suppressing dust. Their composition is devoid of any added chemicals, making them not only safe but ideal for food-related applications. JAX White Mineral Oil are NSF registered, accepted for incidental food contact (NSF H1) and as release agents to prevent food from adhering during food processing (NSF 3H)
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Conclusion
A food grade mineral oil is a carefully refined crude oil deemed safe for both indirect and/or direct contact with food products. The designation of different grades—Technical, National Formulary (NF), and United States Pharmacopeia (USP)—defines their applicability for various uses.
Technical grade is suitable for indirect food contact, while NF and USP grades are approved for direct contact. The process of creating food grade mineral oil involves meticulous refining methods, ensuring specific levels of sulfur and aromatic rings align with safety standards.
JAX White Mineral Oil is achieved through hydrocracking and isodewaxing, offering top-quality options for diverse food-related applications. These oils provide a clear, tasteless, and odorless solution, with exceptional stability and resistance to degradation, particularly under high-temperature conditions. Food grade mineral oil is not only safe, but also optimal for maintaining hygiene and efficiency in a food plant.
