beveragegrade

Beverage-grade is a term used to describe materials, components, or ingredients that are considered suitable for contact with beverages and that meet applicable safety and quality standards. It is not a formal, universal certification, but rather a practical label reflecting regulatory compliance, manufacturing controls, and compatibility with beverage applications.

Materials commonly described as beverage-grade include stainless steels used in equipment and vessels (such as grades 304 and 316), food-grade plastics (for example certain polyethylenes, PET, and polypropylene), silicone, glass, and certain elastomeric seals and coatings. These materials are selected for properties such as corrosion resistance, chemical inertness, and cleanliness to minimize flavor alteration, contamination, or degradation during processing, storage, or serving.

Regulatory frameworks vary by region. In the United States, beverage-grade components typically conform to FDA food-contact regulations (21 CFR) and may carry FDA-compliant or NSF/ANSI certifications. In the European Union, materials must comply with Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 on materials intended to come into contact with food, with further requirements for specific families such as plastics under Regulation (EU) 10/2011. Global manufacturers may pursue additional third-party testing and traceability.

Testing and compliance often involve migration or extraction assessments, compatibility with beverage matrices, and temperature resistance. It is important to recognize that “beverage-grade” does not guarantee taste neutrality or long-term safety in all conditions; suitability depends on the beverage type, storage time, and handling.

See also: food-grade, food contact materials, regulatory compliance.