Tubing

Description: Plastic or rubber tubing is often used to transfer milk, beverages or other food ingredients during food processing. Tubing generally requires a flexible, durable, and crack-resistant material that can withstand fluctuating temperatures and regular washing.

Potential Concern: Chemicals of concern may migrate from some tubing into food and beverage ingredients during food processing. People may be exposed to those chemicals and potential harm when they consume the final product.

Solution Focus: Choose tubing that that avoids chemical additives of concern. Also avoid tubing made of plastics or elastomers that pose toxic hazards over the lifecycle of the material. For improved sustainability, prefer a more durable tubing materials that lasts for multiple years.

PREFER: Polyethylene Tubing

USE (but seek alternative): Silicone Rubber Tubing

Silicone rubber is increasingly popular for its durability and inertness. Silicone rubber requires few additives and is free of organic plasticizers (e.g. phthalates), organic antioxidants, and curing accelerators or retarders, which otherwise may cause a migration concern. However, some chemicals of concern may be used or released during its manufacturing lifecycle and migrate to food and beverage during use.

USE (but seek alternative): Synthetic Rubber Tubing with no Plasticizers

Chemicals of concern are often used to make or are added to synthetic rubber. Various polymers used to make synthetic rubber, such as EPDM, nitrile, and elastomer blends that include polystyrene or polypropylene, are among the most popular tubing materials available. While cheaper, they are less durable than silicone rubber tubing and hoses. Look for synthetic rubber tubing options that are labeled as "plasticizer-free" which avoids the use of both phthalate and non-phthalate plasticizers.

PHASE OUT: Vinyl Tubing with Non-phthalate Plasticizers

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl) poses toxic hazards across its lifecycle requires large amounts of chemical additives known as plasticizers in order to make it flexible enough for use in tubing. Plasticizers are continually released from flexible vinyl, often resulting in human exposure and environmental pollution. Non-phthalate plasticizers are generally safer than ortho-phthalates, however human exposure is increasing and some data gaps remain on their safety.

AVOID: Synthetic Rubber Tubing with Phthalates

AVOID: Vinyl Tubing with Phthalates

References

Pure Strategies (2018). Sources of Phthalates in Dairy Farm Equipment. Prepared for Environmental Health Strategy Center and Coalition for Safer Food Processing & Packaging, with screening and testing by Ecology Center. Full report.

Carlos KS, de Jager LS, Begley TH (2018). Investigation of the primary plasticizers present in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products currently authorised as food contact materials. Food Additives and Contaminants: Part A. 35:6, 1214-1222. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2018.1447695

See full list of resources here.

Information last updated: 10/28/2021

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