Compare food grade ink and edible ink

Date: Sep 08 2024 From: Star Color

Food-grade ink and edible ink are both commonly used ink types, but there is a big difference between the two.
Food-grade ink is generally made of environmentally friendly and safe raw materials. After printing, it can contact food without contaminating food. It is mainly used for food packaging. Food-grade ink cannot be eaten directly.
The raw materials of edible ink are natural plant oils, pigments, etc., and can be directly printed on food such as candy and cakes, and can be eaten directly.

1. Definition and characteristics of
food-grade ink :

Definition : Food-grade ink refers to printing ink that will not contaminate food or release harmful substances when in contact with food after printing and drying.
Features :
- It does not contain harmful substances and will not have harmful effects on food.
- It has good temperature stability and is not easy to fall off or decompose under heating, freezing, etc.
- It has good adhesion and waterproof performance, and has good printing effect.

Edible ink (edible ink) :

Definition : Edible ink is a water-based ink that is green and environmentally friendly. The raw materials used meet food hygiene standards and can be directly in contact with food and be eaten.
Features :
- All ingredients are edible, comply with relevant food standards, and are safe and healthy.
- Bright colors, strong adhesion and clear printing patterns.
- Green and environmentally friendly, no pollution to the environment.

Food grade ink printed napkins

2. Application scenarios
Food grade ink :

It is mainly used for printing on packaging materials that come into contact with food, such as paper cups, cake trays, beverage bottle caps, napkins, biscuit packaging, etc. It ensures the clarity and beauty of food packaging printing while ensuring food safety.

Edible ink :

The application range is wider. In addition to food packaging, it can also be directly printed on the surface of food, such as printing on apples, candies and other products. In addition, it can also be used for printing on various tableware such as paper plates, paper bowls, milk tea cups, coffee cups, etc., to ensure the safety of these tableware when in contact with food.

3. Ingredient Comparison
Food Grade Ink Formula

Pigment : Pigments or dyes that provide ink color, generally harmless to the human body.
Binder : acts as a carrier for pigments, allowing them to be evenly distributed in the ink.
Solvent : Adjusts the viscosity and fluidity of the ink so that the ink can be smoothly transferred to the substrate during the printing process.

Edible ink formula
Edible ink is a more special food-grade ink, all of its ingredients are edible and meet food hygiene standards. The formula of edible ink may contain the following ingredients:

Pigments : Non-toxic and harmless food-grade pigments are also used, such as natural plant pigments or artificially synthesized but safety-certified food pigments.
Binder : Generally edible natural colloids or synthetic resins, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, etc. These substances not only serve as carriers of colorants, but also have certain moisturizing and thickening effects.
Surfactants : such as lecithin, are used to reduce the surface tension of the ink and prevent the ink from splashing or forming satellite droplets during the inkjet printing process.

Below is a table comparing the main differences between food-grade inks and edible inks:

	Food grade ink	Edible ink
definition	Inks used for printing on packaging materials that come into contact with food, meeting food safety standards	A water-based ink that can be directly in contact with food and eaten, and its ingredients all meet food hygiene standards
Application Scenario	Mainly used for printing food packaging materials, such as beverage bottle caps, napkins, biscuit packaging, etc.	In addition to food packaging, it can also be printed directly on the surface of food (such as fruit, candy)
component	Resin, Pigment, Solvent	Vegetable oil, pigment, additives
Security	Cannot be eaten directly, can contact food after printing and drying	Can be eaten directly
Printing Effect	Clear printing, strong adhesion and good waterproof performance	Bright colors, clear printing patterns, strong adhesion
Price and availability	Compared with edible inks, the price is more moderate	Due to the purity of the ingredients and the complex production process, the price is usually higher and there are fewer suppliers

The water-based ink produced by Huizhou Zhongzhixing is one of the food-grade inks. Its main raw materials are resins, pigments and water that are harmless to the human body and meet FDA food-grade standards.

Compare food grade ink and edible ink

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