Why Standard Cleaning Isn't Enough for Food-Grade
When an IBC is destined for food-grade reuse — containing ingredients like corn syrup, vegetable oil, fruit juice concentrate, or food-safe cleaning chemicals — standard cleaning procedures are insufficient. The FDA requires that containers contacting food products meet specific cleanliness standards under 21 CFR 177.1520, and the cleaning process must be documented, repeatable, and verifiable.
At IBC Tanks Recycle, we've developed a certified three-stage sanitization process that meets these requirements. Here's exactly how it works.
Stage 1: Alkaline Wash
The first stage removes organic residues, oils, fats, and proteinaceous materials that cling to the HDPE bottle interior.
Process details:
What this removes: Fats, oils, proteins, carbohydrate residues, biofilms, and most organic staining.
Stage 2: Acid Rinse
The second stage neutralizes any alkaline residue, removes mineral scale deposits, and addresses inorganic contamination.
Process details:
What this removes: Mineral deposits, alkaline residue, rust staining, and hard water scale.
Stage 3: Thermal Sanitization
The final stage achieves microbiological kill using heat rather than chemical sanitizers, eliminating the risk of chemical residue on the container surface.
Process details:
What this achieves: A 5-log reduction (99.999%) in microbiological contamination, including coliform bacteria, E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria.
Quality Control Checkpoints
Our sanitization process includes five mandatory quality control checkpoints:
1. Pre-wash inspection: Visual inspection of the interior for physical damage, staining, or odor that would disqualify the container from food-grade reconditioning
2. Post-alkaline ATP test: An ATP (adenosine triphosphate) swab test measures biological contamination. Readings must fall below 100 RLU (Relative Light Units) to proceed to Stage 2
3. Post-acid pH verification: Final rinse water pH must be 6.5-7.5
4. Post-thermal temperature verification: Water temperature must reach 180°F for the full 20-minute contact time
5. Final inspection and odor test: A trained inspector performs a visual inspection and sniff test of the dried container. Any detectable odor results in a repeat of the full three-stage process or downgrade to industrial grade
Documentation and Traceability
Every food-grade reconditioned IBC receives a documentation package that includes:
This documentation is retained in our quality management system for a minimum of 3 years and is available to our customers upon request.
When Containers Don't Pass
Not every IBC that enters our food-grade cleaning line makes it through. Approximately 15-20% of containers submitted for food-grade reconditioning are downgraded to industrial grade during the process. Common reasons include:
Containers that don't meet food-grade standards are reconditioned for industrial use or recycled for material recovery — nothing goes to waste.
Choosing the Right Grade for Your Application
Not sure whether you need food-grade IBCs? Here's a quick decision guide:
When in doubt, choose food-grade. The cost difference ($40-$80 per unit) is minimal compared to the risk of contamination in a food-contact application.
Contact us for a quote on food-grade reconditioned IBCs.