A food-grade hose must be suitable for the product it carries and the conditions in which it operates. A line used for wine, one used for oil and another used for flour have different requirements. Even when two hoses are described as suitable for food contact, they may differ in the foods they can carry, their vacuum resistance or their cleaning temperature.
Before choosing a model, it is therefore important to define the food product, the transfer operation and the cleaning procedure. This information makes it possible to compare Gassó’s solutions for the food industry and request the documentation for the selected hose.
What must a food-grade hose comply with?
First, the materials in contact with the food must be suitable for their intended use. A product name or the words “food grade” on a datasheet are not enough. You need to know which products the hose can carry and under what time and temperature conditions.
In the European Union, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 establishes the general requirements for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 covers good manufacturing practice for these materials, while Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 contains specific provisions for plastic materials.
For plastics, migration testing may use simulants representing different types of food. Tests are also carried out under specified contact conditions. Documentation covering one application does not, therefore, automatically establish suitability for another. References to FDA requirements or other standards on a datasheet provide additional information, but you must check which part of the hose they cover and the conditions under which compliance is declared.
Selection does not end with the inner tube. Reinforcement, outer cover and connections determine whether the complete assembly can withstand the installation’s pressure, suction, movement and cleaning procedures.
How to select a food-grade hose
There are six basic checks when selecting a food-grade hose. The information needed for many of them can be found in the technical datasheet for each model.
Identify the product that will pass through the line
Selection starts with the food, not the hose material. Specify whether the line will carry water-based liquids, dairy products, oils, alcoholic beverages or dry solids. Composition can affect compatibility with the inner tube: a hose suitable for water or juice is not necessarily suitable for oil.
If the line will carry several products, check each one. Alcohol content matters for alcoholic beverages; for fatty foods, check whether the hose is approved for that type of contact. With flour, grain and other solids, abrasion and the potential build-up of static electricity must also be considered. The description “food grade” does not resolve these differences on its own.
What to check: the foods covered by the hose documentation and any exclusions, particularly for fats, oils and high-strength alcohol.
Determine whether the hose will be used for delivery, suction or both
During delivery, the hose is subjected to internal pressure. During suction, negative pressure can deform it or restrict the flow. A hose must not be used for suction solely because it can withstand the pressure generated during delivery.
You need to know the working pressure, any pressure peaks and the expected vacuum. Check the ratings for the selected diameter, as performance can vary between sizes within the same range. For loading and unloading operations, describe each phase separately if they place different demands on the hose.
What to check: the pressure and vacuum ratings for the required diameter, and whether the hose is expressly suitable for delivery or suction.
Distinguish product temperature from cleaning temperature
A hose may carry a cold or warm product and then undergo cleaning at a much higher temperature. Both temperatures are needed to select a model. It is also necessary to distinguish a temperature maintained during operation from one reached briefly during cleaning.
If hot water or steam is used, specify its temperature, pressure, duration and frequency. The same applies to detergents and disinfectants: provide the cleaning agent, its concentration and contact time. Compatibility with the food does not establish resistance to every cleaning procedure.
What to check: the temperature limits and cleaning conditions stated in the datasheet. A maximum temperature permitted for a short period should not be treated as a continuous operating temperature.
Size the hose for the flow rate and the way it will be handled
The inner diameter must suit the required flow rate and the properties of the product. An undersized hose can increase pressure losses, while one larger than necessary may add weight and make handling or draining more difficult. Length and routing also matter, especially with viscous products.
Next, consider how the hose will be used. A fixed connection has different handling requirements from one that is moved and reconnected several times a day. The permitted bend radius, weight, flexibility and resistance of the outer cover must suit the available space and operating conditions. An excessively tight bend, particularly beside a fitting, can restrict flow or damage the hose.
What to check: inner diameter, length, minimum bend radius and any installation restrictions for the selected model and size.
Assess cleaning and connections as part of the complete assembly
Ease of cleaning depends on both the hose and its installation. Consider whether the route allows it to drain, whether product can collect anywhere and whether the ends can be removed and inspected when the process requires it. A smooth inner surface helps, but it cannot compensate for an assembly that traps residues.
Fittings and seals will also be exposed to the food and cleaning agents. Their materials, dimensions and connection method must be suitable for both, while withstanding the pressure and handling conditions. The check must cover the complete assembled hose, not just its inner tube.
What to check: fitting and seal compatibility, drainage and the procedure for cleaning and inspecting the line.
Check the documentation for the selected model
Before approving a purchase, request the technical datasheet for the intended model and diameter, together with the applicable compliance documentation. It should be possible to identify the foods covered, the contact conditions and any limitations of use.
A “phthalate-free” statement or an isolated reference to a standard does not replace this check. Nor should declarations for an entire product range be assumed to apply to every variant without checking the individual model. For plastic food-contact materials, the European Commission explains the role of the declaration of compliance and its supporting documentation.
| Product or process | Main selection factor | Gassó solution to consider |
Milk collection by tanker | Suction, discharge, length and ease of handling | Foodflex® |
| Milk, juice, beer or wine without oils or fats | Product compatibility and suction requirements | Alicante |
Olive oil and other fatty foods | Suitability for fats and transfer conditions | Oilmill easy or Millennium LL |
Wine and high-strength alcohol | Alcohol content, temperature and type of operation | Scotland or Millennium LL |
Flour, grain and other abrasive dry solids | Wear of the inner tube and static electricity | Solid Food |
Processes with high-purity requirements | Contact conditions, cleaning and construction | Platinum Sil or a suitable PTFE hose |
The table brings together the hoses we offer for different food applications. Some differences between models are decisive: contact with fats, the need for suction or the transfer of solids can rule out a hose that initially appears suitable.
Food liquids and fatty products
For the suction and delivery of milk and dairy products, juice, beer or wine Alicante is an option when no oils or fats are transferred. If the line must also carry fatty products, Millennium LL can handle oil, milk, wine, beer and juice, among other foods. Both are suitable for suction and delivery, but they do not have the same product compatibility.
When the application centres on olive oil and other fatty foods, we offer Oilmill easy, designed for their suction and delivery. The choice between a dedicated hose and one that can carry several foods also depends on temperature, dimensions and operating conditions.
Wine, spirits and alcohol
Scotland can deliver wine and alcoholic beverages up to 96% ABV, making it suitable for distillery applications. If the operation also requires suction, Millennium LL is an alternative that supports both functions and covers alcohol up to 96% ABV.
Alcohol content alone is not enough to make this choice. We also need to consider the working temperature, the cleaning procedure and whether the hose will be used for loading, unloading or both.
Dry food solids
For flour, grain and other abrasive dry products, we offer Solid Food. Its NR/SBR rubber inner tube withstands the transfer of these materials, and the hose incorporates a conductive wire.
Where static electricity must be controlled, the electrical continuity of the complete assembly should also be checked after installation, including the ends and connections.
Processes with purity or temperature requirements
Platinum Sil is a silicone hose for the suction and delivery of high-purity products. We also offer mangueras de PTFE cin different constructions for processes where compatibility, cleaning or temperature require particular attention.
In these cases, we select the model according to the full set of conditions in the line. The inner material matters, but pressure, vacuum, flexibility and connections must also suit the intended use.
Common mistakes when specifying a food-grade hose
The first is to ask simply for “a food-grade hose” without identifying the product. That description does not distinguish between an application involving water, oil, high-strength alcohol or flour. A subsequent change of product should not be assumed to be covered without checking the documentation.
Another mistake is to focus on the maximum published temperature without asking what operating condition it refers to. Continuous service and brief cleaning cycles must be considered separately, and the conditions for both must be communicated. Similarly, a hose suitable for delivering a liquid is not automatically suitable for suction.
Finally, the review must cover the selected size and the complete assembly. Pressure rating, flexibility, fittings and seals can determine whether a solution is suitable, even when its inner tube appears appropriate.
What information should you provide when requesting a food-grade hose?
A complete technical enquiry speeds up selection and reduces the need for follow-up checks. Before contacting Gassó, gather:
- The food or foods that will pass through the line, including alcohol content where relevant.
- Whether the hose will be used for delivery, suction or both, together with the flow rate, working pressure and expected vacuum.
- The diameter, length and route, including the movement and bends the hose must withstand.
- Product and cleaning temperatures, along with the cleaning agents used.
- The connection type, frequency of use and documentation required by the facility.
With this information, we can assess the application against Gassó’s food-industry hoses and connections and identify a suitable model for the complete process.
