Food grade hoses move what people consume, so the rules are different: the tube must not add taste, odour or chemicals to the product, and it must survive repeated cleaning cycles without degrading. That is the whole game in food transfer, and the material choice is the decision.
What Makes a Hose Food Grade
A hose earns a food grade label by meeting contact-material standards — FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 (rubber) and 177.1550 (PTFE) in the US, EU 1935/2004 for food contact, and 3-A Sanitary Standards where dairy is involved. Compliance means the tube compound is tested for migration: nothing in the rubber or plastic may leach into the food at levels above the limit.
The Main Food Grade Types
Food Grade Rubber Hose (NBR / EPDM)
NBR (nitrile) suits oily products — edible oils, shortenings, animal fats. EPDM suits water-based products — milk, juice, beer, soft drinks. Both are reinforced with textile braid for working pressures of 10-20 bar, with a smooth bore for clean draining.
UHMWPE Food Hose
An ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene lining gives a smooth, non-stick, chemical-resistant bore — the standard choice for tomato paste, sauces, fruit concentrate and other viscous or acidic products that would cling to rubber.
Silicone Braided Hose
Platinum-cured silicone with a polyester braid — usable from about -60°C to 200°C, taste- and odour-free, and autoclavable. Used for both food and medical transfer where cleaning cycles are aggressive.
Silicone Vacuum Hose
Semi-transparent, flexible silicone for light vacuum or gravity duties — coffee machine lines, peristaltic pump tubes, baby bottle and culinary applications.
PVC Wine and Beverage Hose
Clear, non-toxic PVC for wine, beer and spirit transfer where visual inspection of the flow matters. Plasticiser systems are chosen to avoid taint.
Washdown Hose
Reinforced rubber or PVC for cleaning food plants — hot water, detergents and sanitisers, with an oil- and abrasion-resistant cover.
How to Choose
Send us the product, the temperature, the cleaning regime (CIP chemicals and cycles) and the working pressure. We come back with a material recommendation and a specification — not a catalogue page.
FAQ
Is your hose FDA certified? Yes — compounds are selected to FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 / EU 1935/2004 as applicable to the duty, with certificates on request.
What is your MOQ? Stock types from 20 metres. Custom compounds and branded hose from 500 metres.
Can you make hose assemblies? Yes — factory crimped and tested assemblies with food-grade fittings, ready to install. See /products/hose-assemblies/.