The hoses used in gardening and tap water flow are safe for human consumption. These same hoses also work for large-scale food and beverage production industries. The question arises of plastic's impact on human and animal health. That impact occurs when the plastic starts leaching harmful elements into the content that passes through it. Then comes food-grade material, which makes a hose safe for humans and animals. However, things become different and secure when a food-grade hose is used. These hoses with food-grade nature prevent the reaction between the liquid inside them and the plastic. Since plastic is free of harmful chemicals, users get safe results. What are those safe results? You will find it below.
Without the FDA's approval, there is no chance anything can pass through the clearance. Since hoses have to transmit liquids of different kinds, they may react with some chemicals inside them. To prevent that chemical reaction, a food-grade hose seller has to comply with FDA standards. Then, the hose can be declared food-grade.
Some global standards and certifications like NSF 51, NSF 61, and FDA must be followed. Whether a hose is made of PVC or PU, the safety standards are mandatory. These standards create differences between ordinary hoses and food-grade hoses. That makes a manufacturer or exporter eligible to manufacture them for industrial and domestic use. Likewise, water supply in the domestic sector and food and beverage production in industries must use food-grade type. They can not go with ordinary hoses since they can cause chemical reactions in the liquid transmitted through them.
Chemical leaching is the main problem that separates ordinary hoses from food-grade ones. Food-grade hoses are specially manufactured to address these challenges, making them safe for human and animal health. Their non-toxic nature makes them compatible with industrial use in food and beverage production. Without any worries regarding chemical leaching, food production centers have used them for a long time.
Even for domestic use, these hoses are safe and reliable. NSF 51 and NSF 61 standards make them safe for tap water flow. That prevents every risk of chemical leaching from the material of the hoses. It happens in ordinary hoses, especially when they get old. They start leaching microplastics and other chemicals inside the water that flows through them.
You might have noticed the strange smell of plastic and its taste in water sometimes. This happens when you drink water from a plastic container or hose that releases plastic smell and taste. Plastic is a harmful element that can cause damage after some years of consistent exposure. However, when food-grade hoses are used, they don't pose such a threat.
They are free of any smell and taste that keeps the liquid safe. Whether it is water or any other kind of beverage, industries trust food-grade hoses for large-scale applications. Flowing water through them is safe for human and animal consumption. Neither taste nor smell will come from the liquid you transmit through food-grade hoses.
The last element that separates ordinary hoses from food-grade ones is using two specific chemicals. These two chemicals are found in plastic goods, and hoses are one of them. Many plastic products leach some minor quantities of BPA and phthalates. They are dangerous for human and animal consumption, which means food-grade hoses must be free of them.
Bisphenol A is usually found in general plastic goods, posing threats to human health. Some food-grade hoses might have some BPA, which can be released into the liquid that passes through them. To create a significant difference between food-grade and ordinary hoses, these chemicals must be excluded from the production of hoses. It depends on the manufacturer and how well they use the right material for safe consumption.
The significant difference between ordinary and food-grade hoses is the use of chemicals. During production, one must be free of BPA and phthalates. Also, chemical leaching, plastic smell, and taste must be prevented in food-grade applications. What suits these applications is nothing but food-grade hoses.
