Question 1

What makes a bulk bag "food grade"?

Accepted Answer

The facility it's made in, not a feature added afterward. A food grade bag is manufactured in a BRC-certified clean room facility using 100% virgin polypropylene resin, with metal detection and documented hygiene controls at every step. A bag made outside that environment isn't food grade no matter what liner or label gets added to it later.

Question 2

What is BRC certification?

Accepted Answer

BRC, now BRCGS (British Retail Consortium Global Standards), Packaging Materials is a GFSI-recognized certification that audits a packaging manufacturing facility, not an individual bag, for hygiene, traceability, pest control, and documented quality control. It's one of the most widely recognized food safety certifications in the packaging industry, used by thousands of facilities in over 100 countries.

Question 3

Do food grade bags need a liner?

Accepted Answer

Not always. The liner is one component of an FIBC and isn't required for every product. Coarse, dry materials like rice or sugar often don't need one, while fine powders like flour usually do. The liner protects against moisture or contamination for specific products, but it doesn't determine whether a bag is food grade, the facility does.

Question 4

Can a food grade bag be made from recycled plastic?

Accepted Answer

No. Food grade fabric must be 100% virgin polypropylene. Recycled PP carries an unknown contamination history since there's no way to verify everything the resin held before it was reprocessed, which is a risk certified facilities won't take.

Question 5

What's the shelf life of a food grade bulk bag before it's used?

Accepted Answer

There's no fixed expiration date, but woven polypropylene degrades under UV exposure over time. Bags should be stored indoors in normal warehouse conditions until they're filled. As long as storage stays indoors and climate-controlled, a properly made food grade bag holds up well for normal inventory turnover.

Question 6

What's the difference between BRC and FDA compliance?

Accepted Answer

They cover different things. FDA regulation 21 CFR 177.1520 addresses whether virgin polypropylene resin is safe for food contact at the material level. BRC certification audits the facility and process where the bag is actually made: hygiene, traceability, pest control, and documentation. A bag can use FDA-compliant resin and still not be food grade if it wasn't made in a BRC-certified facility.

Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

Food Grade Bulk Bags: It’s the Facility, Not Just the Liner, That Counts

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