43005

Is nickel plating safe for oven racks? [India] 

November 10, 2006

I want to know if Ni is used for plating oven racks or not. this application involves direct food contact. As per FDA Ni is considered as GRAS element as direct food additive (but there is a condition for it e.g only as catalyst and/or in hydrogenation of fats, oils etc.)EU guidelines say that Ni plated food contact materials should not be used?
So, wt should be the conclusion?

Anju Baroth
Consumer & Industrial - Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Anju,
If food is going to come in direct contact with the oven rack, stainless steel should be the choice. Oven racks do come in a choice of nickel, chrome, high temp epoxy coatings. With the exception of pizza what kind of food product would be baked directly on a rack? Isn't it common practice to use some type of pan in an oven? It's a lot easier to wash a pan than an oven rack. Cleaning and scrubbing oven racks will wear Ni plating down over time. Good Luck!

Mark Baker
Process Engineer - Syracuse, NY, USA

Anju,
Looks like some cases Nickel is used. But then it is not a right practise. Nickel is not suggested because it reacts quickly with Nitric acid atleast which is used in small amounts in cleaning agents of vessels or racks.
Secondly Nickel forms a small amount of slurry over period of time which can be harmful. This is not a point of concern to that extent in Engineering applications, but definetely where food contact exists.

Sanjeeva
Supply Chain. - Bangalore, India