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Free samples · 3–5 day air
EUPHORA
Problem Nº 08 of 10
§ Field Problem · Nº 08Food-Safe

“I need a label
that touches food.”

Food-safety compliance is layered: the substrate, the adhesive, and the ink each have separate approvals. A “food-safe” substrate with non-compliant adhesive is not legally food-safe. The right combination of all three is.

Find my material →Food-Safe Pack

The Euphora scale

Levels,
measured not marketed.

Manufacturers love absolute claims. We made a scale because “food-safe” means different things in different jobs. Pick the level your job actually requires.

0
Not food-safe
Standard sticker materials, no contact approval.

Materials at this level

Generic substrates
1
Indirect contact
Outside-package labels. No food contact.

Materials at this level

Most labelling materials
2
Brief contact
May contact dry food briefly during handling.

Materials at this level

BOPP, PET (FDA 21 CFR 175.105)
3
Direct contact (dry)
Direct contact with dry foods (rice, flour, candy).

Materials at this level

BOPP, PET (food-contact certified)
4
Direct contact (wet)
Direct contact with wet / fatty foods.

Materials at this level

Specialty BOPP / PET (full FDA / EFSA)
5
Pharmaceutical-grade
Pharmaceutical and infant food packaging.

Materials at this level

Pharma-grade PET (made-to-order)

The Recommended Set

Materials that
passed every test.

B-08Most ordered

Clear BOPP (FDA-certified)

3 / 5

Snack packaging, bakery, candy wraps, dry food labels

MOQ
500 sheets
From
From $0.42 / sheet
F-04

PET (FDA / EFSA)

4 / 5

Wet food, dairy, condiments, premium beverages

MOQ
500 sheets
From
From $0.72 / sheet
F-09

Pharma-Grade PET

5 / 5

Pharmaceutical, infant formula, regulated medical foods

MOQ
2000 sheets
From
From $1.45 / sheet

Lab Notes · Food-Safe

Tests every plate had to pass.

01
FDA 21 CFR 175.105 migration test
✓   No migration above limits
BOPP, PET (food-grade)
02
EU 1935 / 2004 conformance
✓   Compliant
BOPP, PET (food-grade)
03
Direct contact with wet food (48 h)
✓   No migration, no taint
PET (wet food grade)
04
Direct contact with fatty food (48 h)
✓   No bleed, no migration
PET (wet food grade)
05
Pharma-grade leachables (ICH Q3D)
✓   Below detection limit
Pharma-Grade PET

Field Notes

Questions we
get most weeks.

Q. 01
What does “food-safe” legally mean?
For direct food contact, materials must comply with FDA 21 CFR 175.105 (US) or EU 1935/2004 (EU). The certifications cover migration limits for adhesives, inks and substrates.
Q. 02
Is BOPP food-safe?
Standard BOPP carries FDA 21 CFR 175.105 approval for indirect and brief direct contact with dry food. For wet / fatty food, specify food-grade BOPP with full migration testing.
Q. 03
What about the adhesive — is it food-safe too?
Critical question. Standard acrylic adhesive is not food-contact approved. Specify FDA / EFSA-compliant food-contact adhesive when the label may contact food directly.
Q. 04
Do I need pharma-grade for infant formula?
Yes. Infant formula packaging is regulated separately, with additional leachables testing (ICH Q3D). Specify pharma-grade PET.

Go deeper

Press Run

Test the compliance with
your regulatory consultant.

Sample packs ship 3–5 day air to qualified buyers. Test the material in your real environment, with your real product, before committing.

Food-Safe Pack →Open Advisor