When a big bag comes into direct contact with food, it is no longer just industrial packaging: it becomes a MOCA(food contact material) and must meet very stringent requirements to ensure consumer safety.

A food grade big bag is made from virgin polypropylene suitable for food contact, produced in plants that apply strict hygiene standards (cleaning, pest control, access management, cleaning and maintenance procedures). Production processes follow HACCP methodologies, identifying critical points and defining specific controls to prevent physical, chemical or microbiological contamination.

At the regulatory level, in Europe the general reference is Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 on materials in contact with foodstuffs, flanked by specific provisions for plastics (such as Reg. (EU) 10/2011). To these are added voluntary standards, but in fact required by large industry, such as BRCGS, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, IFS, SQF: certifications that attest to the structured management of food safety throughout the packaging supply chain.

A food grade big bag must be designed to minimize the release of substances from the material to the food: for this, global and specific migration tests are conducted under simulated conditions of use. Traceability is critical: each batch of bags must be able to be linked to the source materials, tests performed, and production conditions.

From the customer’s perspective, choosing a certified supplier means reducing the risk of noncompliance in audits, product recalls and disputes. It is important to ask:

• Certificates of fitness for food contact;
• List of standards/certifications of the production facility;
• Summary reports of migration testing;
• Foreign body and complaint handling procedures.

Sebino Pack, as a partner for the food industry, can select certified production facilities, ensure proper documentation for audits, and help clients define technical specifications for their food grade big bags.