Food-Grade Netting

Regulatory Framework

United States - FDA Requirements

In the United States, food-grade netting for meat processing must comply with the Food and Drug Administration's Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):

• 21 CFR Part 177: Indirect food additives - polymers used in food-contact applications
• 21 CFR 170.39: Threshold of regulation for substances used in food-contact articles
• GRAS Status: Generally Recognized as Safe determination for materials in direct food contact
• Migration Testing: Demonstration that extractable substances remain below established limits

European Union - Food Contact Materials Regulation

EU food-grade netting must comply with comprehensive European legislation:

• Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004: Framework regulation on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
• Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011: Specific measures for plastic materials and articles intended for food contact
• Migration Limits: Overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm² or 60 mg/kg of food simulant
• Specific Migration Limits (SML): Individual limits for authorized substances that may migrate

Material Safety Requirements

BPA-Free Certification

Modern food-grade meat netting must be free of Bisphenol A (BPA) and related compounds:

• No intentional addition of BPA, BPS, or BPF to polymer formulations
• Independent laboratory testing confirms absence of detectable bisphenol compounds
• Certification documentation provided with each production lot

Heavy Metal Restrictions

Food-grade netting materials are tested for heavy metal content:

• Lead (Pb): < 0.5 ppm in finished product
• Cadmium (Cd): < 0.1 ppm maximum allowable
• Mercury (Hg): Below detection limits
• Chromium VI: Not detected in extractable content

Compliance Testing Protocols

Migration Testing

Food-grade certification requires comprehensive migration testing:

• Overall Migration: Netting exposed to food simulants (water, acidic solutions, ethanol, oils) at specified temperatures and durations
• Specific Migration: Testing for individual substances known to be present in materials
• Thermal Processing Conditions: Testing at worst-case scenario temperatures (up to 220°C)
• Extended Contact Time: Evaluation under prolonged exposure conditions (up to 14 days)

Microbiological Safety

Food-grade netting must not support microbial growth:

• Materials treated to prevent bacterial colonization during storage
• Testing confirms no increase in bacterial counts on netting surface
• Compatible with standard meat processing sanitation protocols

Manufacturing Quality Controls

Production of food-grade meat netting involves strict quality management:

• Raw Material Traceability: All polymer resins, rubber compounds, and additives sourced from approved suppliers with certificates of analysis
• In-Process Testing: Regular sampling during production to verify dimensional accuracy and material consistency
• Batch Documentation: Complete records for each production run, including material sources, processing parameters, and test results
• Certificate of Compliance: Documentation provided to customers confirming regulatory conformance

Global Market Access

Food-grade certification enables market access across international jurisdictions:

• North America: FDA compliance for US and Canadian markets
• European Union: Meets requirements for all 27 member states
• United Kingdom: Post-Brexit compliance with UK food contact regulations
• Middle East: Halal certification available upon request
• Asia-Pacific: Compliance with import requirements in major Asian markets

Certification Documentation

MeatNetCo provides comprehensive documentation packages:

• Declaration of Compliance (DoC) per EU and FDA requirements
• Migration test reports from accredited laboratories
• Material safety data sheets (MSDS/SDS)
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates
• Third-party audit reports (BRCGS, FSSC 22000)

Related Terms