LFGB (Lebensmittel-, Bedarfsgegenstände-und Futtermittelgesetzbuch, or “ “food, tobacco products cosmetics and other commodity management laws”), is the most important basic legal document in German food hygiene management. The specific LFGB standard: German Food, Articles of Daily Use and Feed Code of September 1, 2005 (LFGB), Section 30 & 31 with amendments and Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004.

LFGB test requested, including extractable components, sensorial examination odour and taste test, Lead and Cadmium, Volatile organic matter(VOM) and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) Content.

Test RequestedConclusion
German Food, Articles of Daily Use and Feed Code of September 1,2005(LFGB), Section 30 & 31 with amendments and BfR recommendation -Extractable ComponentsPASS
German Food, Articles of Daily Use and Feed Code of September 1,2005(LFGB), Section 30 & 31 with amendments-Sensorial examination odour and taste testPASS
German Food, Articles of Daily Use and Feed Code of September 1,2005(LFGB), Section 30 & 31 with amendments and BfR recommendation -Lead and CadmiumPASS
German Food, Articles of Daily Use and Feed Code of September 1,2005(LFGB), Section 30 & 31 with amendments and BfR recommendation -Volatile organic matter(VOM)PASS
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) ContentPASS

German Food, Articles of Daily Use and Feed Code of September 1,2005(LFGB), Section 30 & 31 with amendments and BfR recommendation -Extractable Components

Test Method:    With reference to 61. Mitteilung über die Untersuchung von Kunststoffen, Bundesgesundheitsbl 46 (2003) 362.

Simulant UsedTimeTemperatureMax.Permissible LimitResult of 001Comment
Distilled Water4.0hr(s)100℃0.5%(w/w)<0.1%(w/w)PASS
3% Acetic Acid (W/V) Aqueous Solution4.0hr(s)100℃0.5%(w/w)<0.1%(w/w)PASS
10% Ethanol (V/V) Aqueous Solution4.0hr(s)100℃0.5%(w/w)<0.1%(w/w)PASS

Notes: %w/w = percentage of weight by weight

German Food, Articles of Daily Use and Feed Code of September 1, 2005 (LFGB), Section 30 & 31 with amendments-Sensorial examination odour and taste test

Test Method:    With reference to DIN10955:2004, direct contact method.               No.of panelist:6

Test Item(s)Limit001
Test mediaDistilled water
Test Temperature (℃)100
Test time (hr)4
Sensorial examination odour (Point scale)2.51.0
Sensorial examination taste (Point scale)2.51.0
Comments  PASS

Notes: Intensity scale(rounded at 0.5): 0 – no perceptible difference, 1 -just perceptible difference, 2 -slight difference, 3 -marked difference, 4 -strong difference

German Food, Articles of Daily Use and Feed Code of September 1,2005(LFGB), Section 30 & 31 with amendments and BfR recommendation -Lead and Cadmium

Test Method:     Microwave digestion (GZTC CHEM- TOP-004-01), analysis was performed by ICP-OES.

Test Items(s)LimitUnitMDL001
Cadmium (Cd)mg/kg2ND
Comment   PASS
Lead (Pb)mg/kg2ND
Comment   PASS

Notes: 1.mg/kg =milligram per kilogram of sample  2.MDL=Method Detection Limit  3.ND=Not Detected(less than MDL)  4.★=Absent

German Food, Articles of Daily Use and Feed Code of September 1,2005(LFGB), Section 30 & 31 with amendments and BfR recommendation -Volatile organic matter(VOM)

Test Method:    With reference to 61. Mitteilung über die Untersuchung von Kunststoffen, Bundesgesundheitsbl 46 (2003) 362.

Test Items(s)LimitUnitMDL001
Test Temperature200
Test Timehr(s)4.0
Volatile organic matter (VOM)0.5%(w/w)0.1ND
Comment   PASS

Notes: 1. %w/w = percentage of weight by weight  2.MDL=Method Detection Limit 3.ND=Not Detected(less than MDL)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Content

Test Method:   With reference to AfPS GS 2014:01 PAK, analysis was performed by GC-MS.

Test Item(s): Sum of 18 PAHs. Sum of 7 PAHs Acenaphthylene, Acenaphthene, Fluorene, Phenanthrene, Pyrene, Anthracene, Fluoranthene. Naphthalene(NAP CAS NO. 91-20-3). Acenaphthylene(ANY, CAS NO.208-96-8). Acenaphthene(ANA, CAS NO.83-32-9). Fluorene(FLU, CAS NO.86-73-7). Phenanthrene(PHE, CAS NO.85-01-8). Anthracene(ANT, CAS NO.120-12-7). Fluoranthene(FLT, CAS NO.206-44-0). Pyrene(PYR, CAS NO.129-00-0). Benzo(a)anthracene(BaA, CAS NO.56-55-3). Chrysene(CHR, CAS NO. 218-01-9). Benzo(b)fluoranthene(BbF, CAS NO.205-99-2). Benzo(j)fluoranthene(BjF, CAS NO.205-82-3). Benzo(k)fluoranthene(BkF, CAS NO.207-08-9). Benzo(a)pyrene(BaP, CAS NO.50-32-8). Benzo(e)pyrene(BeP, CAS NO.192-97-2). Indeno( 1,2,3-c,d)pyrene(IPY, CAS NO.193-39-5). Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene(DBA, CAS NO.53-70-3). Benzo(g,h,i)perylene(BPE, CAS NO.191-24-2)

FDA testing (Food & Drug Administration Standard) is the minimum safety standard for food-contact silicone products in the US & Australia. The specific standards is: United States Federal Code, Part 21, Food and Drugs (21 CFR).

FDA test requested

Test RequestedConclusion
FDA 21 CFR 177.2600-Total extractive residuesPASS

FDA21 CFR 177.2600-Total extractive residues

Test Method:     With reference to US FDA 21 CFR 177.2600.

Simulant UsedTimeTemperatureMax.Permissible LimitResult of 002Comment
Distilled Water7.0hr(s)Reflux temperature20mg/sq.in<0.5mg/sq.inPASS
Succeeding Extraction2.0hr(s)Reflux temperature1mg/sq.in<0.5mg/sq.inPASS
n-Hexane7.0hr(s)Reflux temperature175mg/sq.in9.2mg/sq.inPASS
Succeeding Extraction2.0hr(s)Reflux temperature4mg/sq.in<0.5mg/sq.inPASS

In summary…

LFGB silicone pass more strict testing and is therefore more expensive, while FDA silicone is more widely used, but silicone that has passed LFGB testing is definitely safer.

Different countries have different standards for food-contact silicone products. LFGB is standard mainly for Europe, while FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is standard in America(though different country has their own FDA standard, but US FDA is internationally applied.) 

Our baby suction bowls, Baby self-feeding spoon, Silicone Baby Plate, Silicone teether, and other silicone baby items are produced with LFGB silicone. We also can custom products with FDA approved silicone or silicone with LFGB certification based on customer’s requirement.