"Doesn't it taste a bit funny?" Ensuring 3D printing for food contact

When we attend trade fairs at the Teknologisk Institut , we often encounter interest in 3D printing for food contact applications. What is required? What can be used? How is it controlled? We have collected some of the most common questions and passed them on to our team manager, Mads ?stergaard , who has extensive experience in this field and will address these questions below.

There are many factors that need to be in place before a 3D-printed product is approved for food contact. However, one non-negotiable requirement is that it must be manufactured in compliance with current legislation. These legal requirements ensure that the materials do not pose any health risks when they come into contact with food.

Let's take a closer look at what is required.

Strict limits and humans as measuring instruments

A key part of the legislation is EU Regulation 10/2011, which concerns plastic materials intended to come into contact with food. This regulation sets clear guidelines for which materials are permissible and how they must be tested to ensure that they do not release harmful substances.

Several types of tests must be conducted to confirm that a material is suitable for food contact. Migration tests ensure that harmful chemicals are not transferred from the material to the food. Sensory tests are also necessary to confirm that the material does not affect the taste or smell of the food.

The latter is assessed by impartial professionals trained to detect small differences. These individuals smell and, in some cases, taste food that has been in contact with the 3D-printed object. A scale from 1 to 3 is used, where 1 indicates that the material is odor-free, and 3 indicates a strong odor.

Additionally, there are also total migration tests, which measure how much of the total material can transfer to the food. This includes specific tests for various substances, such as lead, which must remain within strict limits. To ensure that a 3D-printed product complies with legislation, a declaration of compliance must be available. The declaration of compliance serves as a guarantee that all relevant tests and procedures have been carried out correctly.

Traceability

Traceability is a legal requirement that ensures the correct batch of goods can be recalled if an error occurs. If part of a 3D-printed tool used in production breaks off or turns out to be defective, it is crucial to be able to trace where and when the issue occurred. This makes it possible to limit recalls to only the affected batches, avoiding unnecessary costs.

Traceability can be incorporated in several ways: X-ray detection, metal detection, and visual inspection using colors.

• X-ray detection can identify foreign objects by scanning through food products and detecting irregularities.
• Metal detection uses metal detectors to find metal fragments that may have entered the product during production. Materials used in 3D-printed components that are detectable by metal detectors ensure that even small fragments are identified.
• Visual inspection using color, such as blue plastic, makes it easier to spot plastic fragments from 3D-printed elements, as the color blue rarely occurs naturally in food.

Responsibility in the Supply Chain

Another critical aspect is ensuring that all links in the supply chain have the necessary approvals and documentation. Each actor in the chain—from raw material suppliers to end manufacturers—must be accountable for ensuring their part of the process complies with applicable regulations. This means that a producer must also ensure that their suppliers hold the necessary certifications and comply with all legal requirements.

If a supplier does not meet the standards, it can affect the entire production process and ultimately impact the safety of the final product. Therefore, it is important to choose reliable partners who can document and prove that their materials and processes meet the required standards.

Which brings me to the next point on the agenda.

Stay updated

Legislation evolves. This means that materials can be removed from or added to the EU’s approved list, and testing requirements may also change over time. While updates are not daily, it is worth considering when your or your supplier’s declaration of compliance was last issued.

A good rule of thumb is that the declaration of compliance should not be more than three years old.

For home printers

At trade fairs, we occasionally meet individuals who 3D print for personal use. These individuals often have questions about safety and food contact. Here are a few tips:

When choosing materials for 3D printing at home, it is important to select those known to be safe for food contact. Conversely, you should avoid certain types of materials, such as ABS, as it may release harmful substances into food. Additionally, the manufacturer must still be able to document that the material was produced in accordance with current legislation and thus complies with safety requirements. If you are unsure about the safety of a material, I suggest conducting a quick online search to find information about its suitability for food contact and the respective manufacturer. If you are still in doubt after your search, I would advise against using the material.

As a private individual, you may not have the ability to conduct tests, but you should still be mindful of potential contamination. If your 3D print gives off an odor or taste to the food, you should avoid using it.

Also, remember that many 3D-printed objects are best suited for short-term food contact. Items like cookie cutters, which are used only briefly, are less problematic than, for example, containers intended for long-term food storage.