Steveruch
Well-Known Member
Is there any reason to not use a non food grade bucket for cleaning and sanitation purposes?
Like a Homer/Lowe's/Ace bucket?None in particular. I was just wanting to get a cheap bucket for cleaning/sanitizing. I wouldn't be letting anything soak for any extended period.
Phosphoric acid 10% | LDPE / HDPE at 20°C-50°C: little or no damage after 30 days. |
Phosphoric acid 85% | LDPE / HDPE at 20°C: little or no damage after 30 days. LDPE at 50°C: shows immediate damage and is not recommended. |
Who knows what the coloring is, though? I know they fade and change color when left outside, even when not in direct sunlight.Most buckets at Home Depot and Lowes are HDPE, including the orange Homer buckets.
The color is probably why HD say's the Homer bucket is not food grade. I would use it for grain storage or wash water but not as a fermenter.
Or a Wal-Mart bucket.Like a Homer/Lowe's/Ace bucket?
We had some threads about using those as fermenters... The bigger problem was they're a bit too small for a 5 gallon batch.
Or a Wal-Mart bucket.
I'm not going to ferment in it, I'm just looking for something cheap to use for cleaning with Oxiclean and sanitizing with starsan... No problem as I do three gallon batches.
Where does it state that? I ask because the colored ones sold for other use than food storage typically are not food grade due to the dyes they use in the plastic. for use in storing dry goods you would be fine.Most buckets at Home Depot and Lowes are HDPE, including the orange Homer buckets.
This is a good point but the reality is the company that makes the bucket doesnt spec a food grade dye from the manufacturer that makes the dye or them. and chances are not much attention is given to whats in that dye since they arent going to pay for the food grade certification. Therefore there are unknowns that can change at any time and the bucket maker may not even know (or care) since thier buckets are made for food storage use. Also keep in mind temps are another factor.No issue. The reason, at least the main reason that most of these containers are not marked food grade, is COST. it costs thousands in fees to get the materials approved and each container gas to be marked also. NSF is main approver and is a real rippoff organization. I know, I dealt with them for 16 years. There is NO LEAD or heavy metals used by US manufacturers. if they are made in the US, you could eat off if them safely.
I use two homer buckets for those exact things... never had an issue.
The orange Home Depot buckets are HDPE 2. Flip them over and it's molded into the bottom. Most buckets are marked this way.Where does it state that? I ask because the colored ones sold for other use than food storage typically are not food grade due to the dyes they use in the plastic. for use in storing dry goods you would be fine.
I learned this a while back with locline some used for sparge arms. all colors but black are NOT food grade. The dye actually leeches out of the plastic. Will it kill you? no but such things usually dont right away, instead they can cause other issues like cancer in rare situations or with excessive use. Not to sound paranoid here but I would just rather avoid ingesting unknown dyes myself and at the brewpub we avoid any possibility of such things by using the correct white food grade buckets.
I agree with this. its more long term or high temp direct food contact that would concern me personally.The orange Home Depot buckets are HDPE 2. Flip them over and it's molded into the bottom. Most buckets are marked this way.
I AGREE that they're not food grade and don't use them myself. I use all food grade buckets. However, I would have no problem using one as a wash water bucket if it was the only one available.
Seriously? It’s actually got **** loads more to do with toxicological analysis and very sensible FDA regulations.No issue. The reason, at least the main reason that most of these containers are not marked food grade, is COST. it costs thousands in fees to get the materials approved and each container gas to be marked also. NSF is main approver and is a real rippoff organization. I know, I dealt with them for 16 years. There is NO LEAD or heavy metals used by US manufacturers. if they are made in the US, you could eat off if them safely.
... for longer term storage. Using them for washup is not a problem.Seriously? It’s actually got **** loads more to do with toxicological analysis and very sensible FDA regulations.
Has anyone demonstrated that officially? I just do my home-brew washing up in cheap bin FVs that are made from food grade plastics. It's what my homemade keg washer's made from too. These days suppliers of manufacturers are responsible for the materials the supply. They'll be ordered at a required specification determined by the intended end use. There's no need to jump through expensive regulatory hoops if, say the FDA, has already decided plastic x is food safe.... for longer term storage. Using them for washup is not a problem.
right but you can only assume its foodsafe for intended use... different plastics have different temp ranges they remain stable for. If you ever had the liner of a cooler warp or bubble on you that is because it reached a higher temp at some point than it was rated to be food safe. once a typical coolers liner goes over 170 degrees the plastic becomes unstable and starts more or less melting at this point it can be leeching chemical componds into whatever medium its in contact with. I dont know off had what the safe temp range is for a plastic bucket. honestly I dont put that much though into it as we only use them for pbw and saniclean when it comes to the brewery and the temps are never that extreme. And we only use the food grade white buckets which are plentiful and cheap.Has anyone demonstrated that officially? I just do my home-brew washing up in cheap bin FVs that are made from food grade plastics. It's what my homemade keg washer's made from too. These days suppliers of manufacturers are responsible for the materials the supply. They'll be ordered at a required specification determined by the intended end use. There's no need to jump through expensive regulatory hoops if, say the FDA, has already decided plastic x is food safe.
I will argue those wood vats were safer any day of the week... Back then the yeast that infected the barrel whether wild or intentional was responsible for much of the beers character. some beers are still fermented and aged in wood like bourbon barrel aged stouts.Any of you who have ever been in a manufacturing environment can probably attest to the fact that a lot of used unknown scrap gets re-used when molding plastics.
Sometime OK, sometimes not. It happens.
So, you want to use Grade “1” buckets and plastics with food. At least (most of the time) there are standards for food grade. Of course a lot of this is produced overseas so all bets are off there too. At least you have a shot using the best plastics for that use.
Years ago a manufacturer was producing plastic toy parts using recycled PVC cable jacketing full of lead for example.
Can you use plastic buckets? Well heck they used to use wood vats to make beer. Is it advised? Nope.View attachment 752466
Good point. but using a cooler mashtun is something many here including myself have done thinking "hey they are food grade" with that false sense of security... coicidently the highest sparge temp you want to use is just under that 170degree safety threshold.. also whats considered safe today may very well not be tomorrow... (remember all those cheap plastic coffee mugs that the liner would sometimes warp?) They disappeared from the market when the BPA thing went public. in many cases we are literally the long term case study/ guinipig. And the system is very flawed... remember thos sleeping pills from the 50-60s that caused so many children to be born without arms. All it took were some convenient lies and fake test results. And that was an AMERICAN company!...As a sidebar, years ago the 1906 Food and Drug Act created standards for food, alcohol, drugs, production and storage standards.
Prior to this food manufactures did all sorts of things in food and food production to get the product out as quickly as possible, safety be damned.
So here we are in 2021 still discussing whether you can use some procedure in materials, practices or sanitation to shortcut or reduce the cost of process. Then we don’t understand why the regulators step into your lives? This is one of the reasons for the laws against distilling for example.
Use best practices folks.
Any of you who have ever been in a manufacturing environment can probably attest to the fact that a lot of used unknown scrap gets re-used when molding plastics.
Sometime OK, sometimes not. It happens.
So, you want to use Grade “1” buckets and plastics with food. At least (most of the time) there are standards for food grade. Of course a lot of this is produced overseas so all bets are off there too. At least you have a shot using the best plastics for that use.
Years ago a manufacturer was producing plastic toy parts using recycled PVC cable jacketing full of lead pigments for example. Then you have issues regarding less than optimally educated or trained manufacturing employees around the world and language issues resulting in all sorts of production problems.
Can you use unknown non-food grade plastic buckets? Well heck they used to use wood vats to make beer. Is it advised? Nope.View attachment 752466
I get free buckets that originally had honey in them. I also worked in plastics many years ago so I inspect them good before cleaning one to put into service around here. I occasionally reject one because it has a piece of regrind or garbage that made it through. The honey is now in products that a lot of us consume. Enjoy !I can attest to that. While in engineering school I did a summer internship at an electronics mfr. that also did its own injection moulding of some components. (This was before that sort of thing was routinely off-shored.) The company rotated the interns around the factory and each of us spent a few not-so-pleasant weeks in the plastics fab. (Sonic welding is LOUD and you wore earplugs plus earmuffs, and it was hot as hell in there.)
Mould sprue, finished parts that failed inspection, even scraps that fell on the floor and were swept up--all were thrown back in the hopper for remelting.
Of course, none of what was made there was intended for food contact. But never assume any plastic item is 100% new plastic.
Really?I will argue those wood vats were safer any day of the week... Back then the yeast that infected the barrel whether wild or intentional was responsible for much of the beers character.
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