Pacific Lubrication Consultants’ Guide to Choosing the Right Food Grade Grease

Selecting the correct food grade grease for your facility’s machinery is vital for maintaining safety, compliance, and efficient performance. From meeting industry regulations to ensuring compatibility with specific equipment, there are several factors to consider.

Here’s a step-by-step guide by Pacific Lubrication Consultants to help you make the right decision when selecting food-safe lubricants.

1. Understand Food Safety Regulations

Before anything else, make sure the grease meets the relevant certifications:

• Look for 2Probity or NSF H1 certification (H1 is the standard for lubricants with incidental food contact).
• Ensure the product is manufactured under ISO 9001 and ISO 21469 standards, which cover food-safe lubricant formulation, handling, and use.

These certifications confirm the product is safe, non-toxic, and suitable for sensitive environments.

2. Consider Machinery Operating Conditions

Every machine has different requirements. Think about:

• Temperature Range
  
  • High-temp greases for ovens
  • Low-temp greases for chillers and freezers
• Load & Pressure
  
  • Use high base oil viscosity for high-load gear systems (e.g. mill rollers)
• Speed of Moving Parts
  
  • High-speed greases reduce wear in fast-moving machinery like pumps
• Relubrication Frequency
  
  • For long-lasting lubrication, consider Cargo Fluor Fluorinated Grease with PTFE thickener, or polyurea-based synthetic greases

3. Choose the Right Base Oil and Thickener

The type of oil and thickener directly impacts performance:

• Base Oil Type
  
  • Synthetic or PAO oils perform better under extreme temperature conditions than mineral oils
• Thickener Type
  
  • Calcium sulfonate complex: Excellent for water resistance and load-bearing (ideal for washdown zones)
  • Polyurea: Great for long life in sealed bearings
  • Aluminium complex & inorganic options are also used, depending on compatibility
• Ensure all additives are approved for food grade applications (H1 standard)

4. Check NLGI Consistency Grade

NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute) grades indicate grease thickness:

• NLGI 2: General-purpose applications
• NLGI 0 or 00: Older centralised systems or colder environments
• Match the grade with your delivery method and operating temperature

5. Ensure Water and Chemical Resistance

In food processing environments with regular washdowns, grease needs to withstand exposure to water and cleaning chemicals:

• CARGO Caxtreme Grease is an excellent choice—it combines a PAO base oil with calcium sulfonate complex for high durability
• Provides corrosion protection and resists acidic or alkaline cleaners used during sanitation

6. Confirm Grease Compatibility

Avoid problems like softening or hardening by checking compatibility with existing greases:

• Make sure the base oil and thickener types are compatible
• Also check that the grease won’t damage seals, gaskets, or plastic components

7. Follow Manufacturer Guidelines

Always refer to your equipment’s manual:

• Check OEM recommendations for grease type, viscosity, and application frequency
• Follow guidance specific to different parts—like bearings, chains, or open gears

8. Plan for Maintenance and Relubrication

Match grease selection with your maintenance strategy:

• Use long-life greases for areas that are hard to access or require less downtime
• Choose products that balance performance with reduced relubrication intervals

9. Buy from Reputable Suppliers

For safety and quality assurance:

• Buy from trusted distributors with access to certified formulations
• Request technical data sheets and food grade compliance certificates
• Avoid smaller or unverified brands that may lack the resources to meet international standards

10. Test and Monitor

Before switching fully:

• Apply the grease in a trial area to evaluate performance
• Monitor for results like reduced wear, improved cleanliness, or absence of leaks

Why Choose Cargo Food Grade Grease?

Cargo greases are designed with food safety and industrial performance in mind. Whether you need a non-staining grease for sensitive environments or a heavy-duty product for high-load equipment, there’s a Cargo product to match.

Available in a variety of base oils, thickener types, and NLGI grades:

• NLGI-000
• NLGI-00
• NLGI-0
• NLGI-1
• NLGI-2

Get Expert Help from Pacific Lubrication Consultants

Pacific Lubrication Consultants is the exclusive distributor of Cargo lubricants in Australia. They provide:

• Personalised product recommendations
• Technical support based on your machinery and working conditions
• Importer-direct pricing for businesses looking to buy high-quality lubricants at great value

If you're unsure about the right grease for your setup, simply share your equipment details—and they'll do the rest.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right food grade grease isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes—it’s about improving reliability, reducing maintenance, and ensuring product safety.

With help from the experts at Pacific Lubrication Consultants, and by using trusted products like Cargo Food Grade Grease, your factory can maintain peak performance while meeting the highest hygiene standards.