Meeting Food-Grade Pump Requirements for Food & Beverage Safety in Australia
When buying the best food grade pumping equipment for your application, selecting the right sanitary pump or food grade pump that maintains product integrity and compliance with Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code requirements is a critical consideration.
As a Food and/or Beverage business operator, you’re likely very aware of the strict Australia New Zealand Food Standards Codes that guide the industry for best practice and Workplace Health and Safety (WHS).
Choosing a certified food-grade pump (and maintaining it) is crucial for avoiding potential hazards, preventing food contamination and food-borne illnesses along every point of the supply chain, and by doing so, securing adherence to the food safety codes, protocols and practices outlined by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
The most applicable Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code for food grade pumps is Standard 3.2.3 – Food Premises and Equipment.
What is a Food Grade Pump?
Food-grade pumps, sanitary pumps or hygienic pumps are engineered to safely transfer consumable and sterile products between processes without impacting the quality or integrity of the product, or exposing them to the mechanisms of the pump or other external exposure causing contamination.
Food grade pumps are designed to adhere to strict sanitation, health and safety standards that apply to the food, beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.
An often overlooked aspect of food-grade pumps is the fact that it’s not just the pump and seals that must be food-grade. The entire system itself must be sanitary, easy to clean and easy to sterilise. Hence, most food-grade pumps are constructed from high-grade stainless steel, suitable for food-grade safety.
What are the Food Grade Pumps Standards for Australia?
Australia doesn’t have its own approval authority for approving food and beverage pumps. However, certain global certifications are accepted in Australia as sufficient to meet the stringent food safety codes. The most common and accepted certifications for food-grade pumps in Australia are FDA-approved and EHEDG-certified for food and beverage use.
FDA-approved food-grade pumps ensure that the system has met certain safety and hygiene standards. European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) certification means that pumped product is processed and packaged hygienically using hygienic equipment.
To be approved by these authorities, a food-grade pump must be made from food-grade materials, such as stainless steel, that can be easily sterilised and meet the regulations for food production.
The surfaces of food-grade pumps must be smooth to prevent contamination from bacteria build-up and maintain hygiene requirements. Furthermore, the pump seals, housing, gaskets and lubricants used within the pump must also be food-grade approved.
Choosing the Best Food Grade Pump System
To ensure you select the best food-grade pump for your application, it is important to consider the required flow rate of the pump, product characteristics and any other food safety, industry-specific or WHS requirements. Before buying any food-grade pump, it is crucial to examine the characteristics and technical specifications to ensure the pump is food grade, so you can safely transfer food and beverage products without the risk of bacteria harbouring and contamination.
In addition to material and hygiene requirements, your chosen industrial food grade pump system should be engineered and designed to handle the type of product being pumped. As mentioned before, food and beverage pumps are critical for the hygienic transfer of delicate products.
The food and beverage processing industry employs a variety of pump types for various processing applications.
Types of Food-Grade Pumps for Food & Beverage Applications
Hunter Pump’s wide selection of carefully selected food grade certified and approved pumps are appropriate for Food & Beverage applications demanding strict hygiene requirements, low to high-viscosity fluids handling, shear-free pumping, and other food safety specifications applicable to Australia Standards.
