A report can support material selection, but first check what was tested, under which conditions, and whether it represents the mold or seal you plan to make. Even when a raw material is suitable for food contact articles, molding, curing and actual contact conditions still need review before judging the finished article.

Ask specific questions when purchasing: Which grade does the document cover? Was the sample uncured rubber, a cured test sheet or the finished article? Is the target market China, the United States or Germany? These answers are usually more useful than collecting a stack of documents labeled “food grade.”

Distinguish the raw material from the finished food contact article

Silicone rubber for confectionery molds, baking molds and food equipment seals becomes a physical article. Silicone oil used for processing defoaming, equipment lubricants and coatings on metal have different functions and evaluation requirements. They cannot share one universal food grade declaration.

The product information below is a starting point for identifying the mold material range. Obtain supporting food contact documents and conditions for the specific grade separately before selecting samples.

Related raw material IOTA silicone rubber materials for food molds

IOTA Silicone Oil (Anhui) Co., Ltd. provides solutions across the silicone value chain and supplies relevant raw materials and product information. Send the intended article and target market first, then check which documents are available. A website product name is not treated here as proof that a particular grade qualifies for a specific use.

Check the current Chinese standard against your article

GB 4806.16–2025, National Food Safety Standard for Silicone Rubber Materials and Articles for Food Contact, took effect on 2 September 2026. It applies to these materials and articles and replaces the silicone rubber requirements in GB 4806.11–2016. [1]

If you only have an older report, ask the supplier or testing laboratory to check its coverage against current requirements. The new standard covers raw materials, sensory properties, physicochemical criteria and migration testing, and adds a volatile substances item. Gaps need supplementary evaluation; changing the standard number on a document is not enough. [1]

Migration means substances from the material entering food or a food simulant under specified conditions. The simulant, contact duration and temperature should correspond to intended use. A refrigerated confectionery mold and a high temperature baking mold have different conditions; explain them separately when commissioning tests.

Ask what use FDA or LFGB documents actually cover

US 21 CFR 177.2600 addresses rubber articles intended for repeated use, including composition and relevant extraction requirements. It is not a universal “FDA certificate” for every silicone oil, coating or food application. Check the actual product and applicable provisions. [2]

When a German customer asks for an “LFGB report,” examine its precise basis. LFGB is a legal framework. BfR recommendations on food contact materials can provide technical guidance, but BfR states that they are not legally binding standards. Writing only “LFGB passed” on a purchase order does not define the scope of testing. [3]

Check China, the United States and Germany separately. A report completed for one market may be retained as existing information, but it does not by itself establish compliance in the other two.

Read the sample details before the pass conclusion

Check the sample name, grade, color and processing state first. If the supplier tested a standard sheet but the factory will make a colored article with a different curing process, confirm whether the report or a supplementary evaluation covers those differences.

Then check use conditions. State whether contact is with aqueous, fatty or other foods, the temperature, duration and whether use is repeated. Surface coatings, inks or adhesives also require review against the relevant requirements; GB 4806.16–2025 contains explicit provisions on this. [1]

No noticeable odor is a useful routine observation, but cannot replace the required tests. Nor can hardness, tensile strength or heat resistance alone answer whether food contact requirements are met.

Four things to prepare before requesting samples

1. Identify the finished article and sales market, such as a confectionery mold, baking mold or equipment seal. Say whether it is specifically for infants and young children.

2. State the food type, maximum contact temperature, duration of each contact and repeated use pattern. Include cleaning and disinfection conditions.

3. List the planned raw materials, colorants and other auxiliaries, plus molding, curing and post-treatment conditions. Share information as needed; full formulation disclosure is not assumed.

4. Request use compliance information and test reports for the specific grade, then ask the laboratory what further tests the finished article needs. TDS provides technical information, SDS supports safe handling, and COA supports batch property checks. Keep their roles distinct.

After a material or process change, retain a record and assess whether the existing report still represents the article. This gives purchasing a clear basis when batches, colors or processing conditions change.

Frequently asked questions

Q1 Can raw material labeled food grade go straight into food molds

Obtain support for the specific grade and intended use, then evaluate the article under the actual processing conditions. The product name alone is insufficient.

Q2 Can an older GB 4806.11 report still be used directly for silicone rubber purchasing

GB 4806.16–2025 is now in effect. Check the older report against current requirements and address gaps rather than simply retaining the old reference.

Q3 Do FDA documents remove the need to check Chinese standards

Articles for China still need assessment under applicable Chinese requirements. Information for US provisions does not automatically replace Chinese standards.

Q4 Are LFGB and BfR XV the same thing

They differ in status. LFGB is a legal framework; BfR XV is a technical recommendation for silicones. The report should state its actual basis and scope.

Q5 Does the original report remain valid after changing the color of the same base rubber

Check whether the colorant, addition level and processing conditions are covered by the existing evaluation. Changes outside that coverage need further assessment.

Q6 Can IOTA directly specify a compliant grade

First provide the market, article and contact conditions, then review the material documentation. Complete use support for a specific grade has not been established here, so no grade is designated as confirmed compliant.

Related products

Main related raw material IOTA silicone rubber materials for food molds

Sources

GB 4806.16–2025 standard text Copy hosted by the US Department of Agriculture

US eCFR 21 CFR 177.2600

German BfR recommendations on food contact materials and their legal relevance

IOTA silicone rubber for food molds Product information