"Food-grade plastic" gets used casually in sourcing conversations, but FDA regulation of materials that contact food is more specific than the phrase suggests, and the compliance gap between "generally food-safe resin" and "properly documented food-contact compliant packaging" can be significant.
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, substances that come into contact with food (including the resins, additives, and colorants used in packaging) must either have FDA approval as a food-contact substance, be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), or fall under an existing food-contact notification. This applies to the specific resin formulation and to any additives blended into it.
PET, HDPE, and PP are common food-contact resins, but that doesn't mean every batch or grade of these materials is automatically compliant. Color additives, UV stabilizers, and processing aids blended into a resin can each carry their own food-contact compliance requirements, and a colorant approved for one resin type isn't automatically approved for use in food-contact applications generally.
Request FDA food-contact compliance documentation for the exact resin grade and color formulation being used in the packaging. This is standard, verifiable documentation that a serious supplier should provide without hesitation. The Jadewell resin guides list the applicable food-contact status, and the certifications page covers the quality systems behind that documentation.
This article provides general information only on FDA's food-contact framework. Confirm requirements for a specific product with FDA guidance or regulatory counsel.
Explore the Jadewell plastic bottle and plastic jar ranges, or request a quote with fill type and required resin grade.