21 CFR 174-186 Explained: Which Part Covers Your Food Container
21 CFR Parts 174 to 186 are FDA's food contact rules. For a plastic container, the part that matters most is Part 177, and inside it the section for your resin.
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TL;DR: 21 CFR Parts 174 to 186 are the FDA rules for substances that touch food without being food. For a plastic container, Part 177 (polymers) is the one to check, and inside it the section for the resin: 177.1520 for olefin polymers like HDPE and polypropylene, 177.1630 for PET. Ask your supplier which section the resin meets and for what conditions of use. LT Plastics, an authorized Bonar Plastics distributor based in Phoenix, AZ, supplies HDPE bulk containers, hoppers, tanks and speed bumps to US plants.
Quick Facts
| Part | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 174 | General rules for indirect food additives |
| 175 | Adhesives and coating components |
| 176 | Paper and paperboard components |
| 177 | Polymers (plastics) |
| 178 | Adjuvants, production aids and sanitizers |
| 180 | Substances allowed on an interim basis |
| 181 | Prior-sanctioned ingredients |
| 182, 184, 186 | GRAS substances (direct and indirect) |
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FAQ
What does 21 CFR 174-186 cover?
FDA rules for indirect food additives: substances in packaging, equipment and containers that may contact food.
What is 21 CFR 177.1630?
The FDA section for polyethylene phthalate polymers (PET) used in food contact.
Which section covers HDPE containers?
21 CFR 177.1520, olefin polymers.
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Part of the topic guide
FDA Food Grade Containers and Food Safety Compliance