To determine whether the coating material of electroplated colourful glassware meets the food safety standards, a comprehensive assessment is required from multiple dimensions, such as material composition, certification mark, product description, and testing methods.

 

 

How to determine whether the coating material of electroplated colourful glassware meets the food safety standards?

 

 

To determine whether the coating material of electroplated colourful glassware meets the food safety standards, a comprehensive assessment is required from multiple dimensions, such as material composition, certification mark, product description, and testing methods. The following are specific methods and key points:

 

1. Check product identification and certification documents

 

Compulsory certification identification

 

1）Chinese standards (GB 4806 series)

-Food contact glassware sold in China must comply with "GB 4806.1-2016 National Food Safety Standard General Safety Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Products" and "GB 4806.5-2016 Glass Products", and the coating materials must additionally comply with "GB 4806.10-2016 Food Contact Paints and Coatings" or metal migration standards (such as GB 31604 series).

-Judgment method: Check whether the product packaging or label is marked with "food contact" and "comply with GB 4806", or check the test report number on the brand's official website.

 

2）International standards (such as FDA, LFGB, CE, etc)

-FDA (USA): Must comply with regulations such as 21 CFR 177, and coating materials (such as titanium, stainless steel) must pass migration tests (such as lead ≤ 0.01mg/L, cadmium ≤ 0.005mg/L).

-LFGB (Germany/EU): More stringent requirements, such as nickel migration ≤ 0.01mg/L, hexavalent chromium must not be detected, and the coating must pass the "Total Migration Test".

-CE certification: Must comply with EC 1935/2004 framework regulations, and some countries (such as France and Italy) have additional metal migration restrictions.

 

3）Judgment method: Imported products must provide Chinese labels and corresponding certification documents (such as FDA test reports, LFGB certificates). You can ask the merchant to provide scanned copies or verify the number through the official website of the certification body.

 

 

 

 

2. Third-party test report

 

1.）Regular manufacturers will entrust SGS, CTI and other institutions to conduct tests, and the report must mark:

-Coating material composition (such as titanium content ≥99%, stainless steel grade 304/316);

Migration data (such as the dissolution of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and nickel in simulated food liquid).

-Standards for testing (such as GB 31604.9-2016, FDA 21 CFR 177.2600).

-Operational suggestions: Ask the merchant for the original test report directly, and focus on checking whether the "test results" are lower than the standard limit (for example, GB 4806.10 requires lead migration ≤0.01mg/kg).

 

2.）Avoid vague expressions of "alloy" and "electroplating".If the product is only marked with "alloy plating" and "environmentally friendly electroplating" without specifying the metal composition, it may hide inferior metals (such as low-priced alloys containing lead). It is recommended to choose products marked with "titanium electroplating" and "316 stainless steel plating".

 

 

3. Preliminary judgment through appearance and use experience

 

1）Quality of coating process

High-quality coating: smooth and uniform surface, no bubbles, scratches or peeling, natural edge transition, no obvious metal granularity when observed through light.

Poor-quality coating: uneven colour (such as greying or yellowing in some parts), may fall off when scratched with fingernails, and fade or smell after contact with hot water or alcohol.

Principle: Poor-quality electroplating process (such as electroplating liquid with many impurities and coating thickness less than 5μm) is prone to increase the risk of metal migration.

 

2） Acidic liquid test (simple risk investigation)

Operation method: Pour 5% acetic acid solution (simulating acidic beverage) into the container, soak at room temperature for 24 hours and observe: If the solution becomes turbid or has a metallic taste, the coating may have been corroded, and the risk of metal ion migration is high. If the coating does not change, it can be preliminarily judged that the process stability is good (but it cannot replace professional testing).

 

 

 

 

4. Choose a reliable supplier or manufacturer (customisation or wholesale business)

 

1）Review supplier qualifications

-Basic qualification verification

Requires a business license, a production license, and a tax registration certificate to confirm that the company exists and the business scope includes glassware

 

2） Production and electroplating process

Requires verification of ISO 9001 quality management system certification, ISO 14001 environmental management system certification, EU RoHS/REACH certification (to ensure that the coating is environmentally friendly and lead-free), etc.

 

3） Process capability assessment

-Case display: Requires the provision of real photos, videos or samples of past electroplated colourful products, focusing on:

-Whether the coating is firm (adhesion can be tested by scratching with a fingernail)

-Whether the colour is uniform, whether there are bubbles or peeling;

-Whether the junction between the glass body and the coating is smooth and burr-free.

 

4）Technical documents: Ask about the specific parameters of the electroplating process (such as coating thickness, electroplating time, and the composition of the environmentally friendly coating used) to confirm whether it meets national standards or industry standards.

 

5）Production scale and equipment

-Understand the type of electroplating lines (such as water plating lines, vacuum coating lines), production capacity (monthly output), and quality control processes (such as whether there are coating salt spray tests and high temperature resistance tests) of the factory.

-Prioritise manufacturers with automated production lines and independent laboratories to ensure the stability of mass production.

 

6) Proofing verification

-Require manufacturers to make pre-production samples according to drawings, focusing on testing:

-Corrosion resistance of electroplating layers (such as wiping with alcohol or acidic liquid to observe whether they fade).

-Load-bearing and drop resistance of glassware (simulating daily use scenarios).

-Colour performance under different lighting conditions (such as whether there is a colour difference under natural light and artificial lighting).

 

7) Small batch trial production

If the samples are qualified, a small batch trial production of 500-1000 pieces can be carried out first to verify the manufacturer's mass production capacity and quality control stability, and test market feedback (such as dealers' or users' evaluation of appearance and quality).

 

 

 

 

5. Maintenance recommendations for long-term use of electroplated products

 

Even if the coating material meets the standards, improper use may still increase the risk:

-Avoid high-frequency contact with irritating liquids, such as lemon juice, carbonated beverages, and high-concentration alcohol (>40% vol). The recommended contact time is no more than 2 hours.

-Gentle cleaning: hand wash with a soft cloth + neutral detergent. Do not use steel wool or dishwashers (high temperature and high pressure may damage the coating).

-Regular inspection: observe the coating for wear and cracks every 3-6 months. If metal is exposed, stop using it immediately.

 

 

Xi'an Dingmu Household Products Design & Manufacture Co., Ltd.   We are a source manufacturer focusing on the customisation and wholesale of household glassware. We can provide one-stop service from design, proofing, to mass production. We use high borosilicate glassware and soda-lime glassware, covering production processes such as manual blowing, half-manual and half-machine pressing, and machine pressing, as well as various post-processing processes including electroplating, decals, hand-painting, laser engraving, etc. We support Logo customisation, packaging customisation, customisation according to drawings, bulk procurement, customised production, etc., to meet the needs of multiple scenarios such as home, gifts, and catering.