What is food grade sealant?
Food grade silicone sealant is a type of silicone sealant with very low toxicity. Made with FDA-approved silicone sealant and fungicide, food grade sealants are designed specifically for food contact applications such as refrigerator seals and food preparation areas.
Is all silicone sealant food grade?
No, not all silicone sealants are completely toxin-free, which means they can be unsafe for contact with food. You need a silicone sealant that is specifically labelled as ‘food grade’. Our Everbuild food grade sealant is a high modulus, FDA-approved, odourless silicone sealant with 100% neutral cure. It adheres to a variety of porous and non-porous surfaces, including plastics, ceramics and metal, without a primer.
In addition to being safe for food preparation areas and refrigeration, the food grade silicone sealant also contains a powerful anti-bacterial compound with FDA-approved food compatibility. This strong fungicide is resistant to mildew and mould, and helps prevent the formation of most common germs on its surface, including E-Coli, MRSA, Salmonella, Listeria and Staphylococcus.
What are the benefits of food grade sealants?
Silicone as a whole is an abundant natural resource highly resistant to extreme temperatures, meaning that being exposed to heat won’t cause any damage or degradation to the seals. Food grade silicone is also resilient to the test of time – it won’t crack, crumble or peel, so your food preparation areas are safe from any damage (or potential debris that might end up in the food itself). Its’ high viscosity non slump formula gives it excellent external weathering properties over many years’ exposure.
Free from odours and toxins, our food grade silicone sealants don’t contain any harmful ingredients such as BPA, lead, latex, or phthalates. FDA-approved and mould resistant, food grade sealants have a slow skinning time which makes them ideal for long joint runs in larger applications. They also offer excellent adhesion to most common surfaces, including glass, metals, plastics and wood (painted or unpainted), as well as UPVC and polycarbonate.
In addition to their food preparation areas and refrigeration applications, food grade sealants can also be used in medical and sterile environments such as hospital, pharmaceutical and lab rooms.
Food grade sealant for concrete
Contrary to popular belief, concrete countertops don’t have to be high maintenance or easily stained. Sealing technology has evolved significantly since the introduction of simple wax and acrylic sealers. Nowadays it’s possible to find a sealant for concrete countertops that meets all the essential requirements for a kitchen surface – in addition to being resistant to heat, stain and scratches, this new generation of sealants are food grade, silky smooth and easy to maintain.
A common issue in the past has been making the distinction between sealants for concrete flooring and sealants for concrete countertops. Although the material in itself has widely the same properties, the performance requirements for the two surfaces differ greatly. While concrete floor sealants help optimise flooring for the scuffle of feet, sealants for concrete countertops optimise them for the purposes of cooking.
The ideal food grade sealant for concrete countertops will protect the material against stains, acidic corrosion and the growth of bacteria, while also remaining food safe (non-toxic). From a performance perspective, you need a sealant for concrete that will improve the appearance of your countertops, make them more resistant to stains from household ingredients such as liquids, oils and food and prevent etching caused by acidic substances like vinegar or lemon.
The heat resistance of food grade silicone sealants makes them perfectly equipped to protect concrete countertops from hot pots or pans leaving marks on the surface. Once sealed, your countertops will also be scratch-proof and easy to clean with everyday cleaning products, maintaining their appearance free of chips, flakes or bubbles.
Where to buy food grade silicone sealant?
We supply a range of low modulus sealants from a number of industry-leading brands, including Everbuild’s Clean Room Silicone and Sanitary Silicone.