What is a key characteristic of food-grade material?

A key characteristic of food-grade material is that it must be corrosion-resistant and non-toxic. This ensures that the materials used in food contact applications do not react with food, leach harmful substances, or degrade over time due to exposure to various food components, including acids and moisture. Non-toxic materials are crucial for food safety as they prevent chemical contamination that could pose health risks to consumers.

While high durability, heat resistance, and reusability are desirable traits in certain contexts, they do not encompass the fundamental requirement for materials that come into contact with food. Durability may not guarantee safety if the material can corrode or release toxins. Similarly, materials may be heat-resistant yet still be hazardous if they are not non-toxic. Therefore, the combination of being corrosion-resistant and non-toxic is what specifically defines food-grade materials and ensures they meet health and safety standards.