A Complete Guide to Food-Grade Paper: Types, Uses, and Safety

Food needs careful packaging to keep it healthy and protected. If you are packing your food in a box without concern for its manufacturing materials, your food may become harmful. Therefore, food businesses should understand packaging materials and their safety concerns. It makes them confident to pack their goods in reliable and food-safe boxes.

The most important factor in packaging is paper, which is used in 90+ per cent of packaging. Paper is made through various processes and materials. So, before purchasing boxes, you should have knowledge of what food-grade paper is. Types, Uses, and Safety Standards. It will help you decide and pick the right packaging for your specific food. Here we will learn about the types and their uses. After knowing the suitable paper, you will be able to deliver your food in the UK with confidence in food-safe packaging.

What is Food Grade Paper?

Food-grade paper is certified by the FDA and USDA regulatory bodies. It is suitable for direct and indirect contact with food without transferring harmful chemicals and toxins. It is made from food-safe virgin materials. But some papers are made with recycled cellulose fibres that go through a specialised pulping and refining process. They are also food-safe with non-toxic finishing.

Process of Manufacturing Food-Safe Paper

Manufacturers use different methods to make food paper that are suitable for contact with food without any harmful impact. The material determines the paper quality. The wood pulp and approved food-safe recycled fibres are widely used raw materials that make the paper food-grade. The isolated fibres are mixed with water to create a dilute pulp slurry and washed using the ECF method to remove impurities. 

The refining process increases the surface area of the fibres and their natural bonding capability. Pulp slurry flows onto a moving wire mesh screen to drain the fibres. The paper also goes through heavy press rollers to extract moisture and stabilise the structure. The food-safe coatings and treatments are applied after the press process. It also categorises them into different types. The coating can describe the intended use and type of paper.

Types of Food Grade Paper for Food Safe Packaging

Food grade papers fall into flexible wrapping and rigid paper boards. Each is engineered with specific fibres and coatings to safely contact food without leaching chemicals. Different types offer distinct barrier and temperature properties. So choosing the right type depends on your food item requirements and structural support. Here are flexible and rigid papers that are food-safe.

Flexible Food-Safe Wrapping Papers

Flexible papers are thin and foldable sheets that are used for direct wrapping and covering baked items.

• Greaseproof Paper
• Parchment Paper
• Wax Paper
• Butcher Paper
• Deli Paper
• Freezer Paper
• Glassine Paper 
• Food Grade Kraft Paper

Rigid Food Grade Paperboards

Paperboards are thicker and made with multi-layered materials used to build boxes, cups, trays and cartons. They are:

• Solid Bleached Sulphate SBS
• Folding Box Board FBB
• Coated Unbleached Kraft 
• Cupstock base paper 
• Liquid Packaging Board

Comparison of Flexible Food Grade Paper by Application

Paper use for different food packaging. But not all types of paper are suitable for the same product packaging. Each type has specialised barriers and heat resistance to protect food from moisture and heat. 

Important Standards to Look for Food-Grade Papers

The paper should be make from virgin Grade pulp and fresh wood fibres rather than recycle mix scrap paper. Recycled paper can harbour toxic inks and contaminants. Therefore, fresh wood fibres are suitable for food contact without harmful impacts. Another important thing to keep in mind is regulatory compliance. If the paper is not approve by the FDA, it is not safe for direct contact with food. So, ensure that your packaging paper is FDA-certified and safe for food packaging. 

Rigid Food Grade Paperboards For Premium Packaging

Paperboards are rigid and give more strength and protection to food. They are use to build boxes and cartons to pack heavy food items. You can use the desired rigid paperboard for your food packaging according to your needs.

Solid Bleached Sulphate Paperboard

SBS is a premium virgin paperboard with a smooth surface. It is suit for high-resolution brand printing. It is commonly fold into bakery boxes and cake cartons to pack frozen food. 

Folding Box Board 

It is a lightweight multi-layer board make from chemical pulps. Brands use it for dry grocery packaging. This is a standard material suitable for holding cereal and crackers. You can use it for pasta and cake mixes as well.

Coated Unbleached Kraft paper

One of the heavy-duty brown paperboards with high tear strength. It holds up well in humid environments and is use for beverage carriers. You can use it as a frozen meal box and a sturdy takeout container. 

Cupstock Base Paper

A thicker virgin pulp board made to hold liquids without a demulcent. It is lin with a PE barrier to hold hot beverages. You can use it for hot coffee cups and cold drink cups.

Important Precautions for All Food Grade Papers

Different foods interact with paper fibres. This includes coatings and inks. Chemical migration and barrier breakdown are primary risks. When matching paper packaging to different food types, consider these factors. Here are general precautions that you should follow for safe food packaging.

• Verify Direct Contact Approval
• Avoid Recycled Paper for direct contact
• Keep Inks and adhesives on the outside
• Check reheating limits
• Store paper properly before use

Conclusion

You have read the complete breakdown of food-grade papers, including their types and safety concerns. The flexible papers have their own features for packing oily and dry goods. On the other hand, the rigid paperboards are suitable for packing heavy food items for long deliveries. 

Both are food-grade and suitable for food packaging. You can decide your selection of paper according to your food type. Then you will be able to pick the right paper for your food packaging. Our expert team at Waxpapers UK provides full support in choosing the food packaging materials. You can get our customized boxes and food-safe papers for your food packaging.