Is polycarbonate (PC) safe in food applications?

2026-06-16

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Grade Polycarbonate

The following are some of the most common questions about food grade polycarbonate, including BPA content, drinking water safety, temperature resistance and material selection.

Does Food Grade Polycarbonate Contain BPA?

Yes. Most food grade polycarbonate resins are manufactured using bisphenol A (BPA) as a raw material. However, food-grade materials must comply with strict food-contact regulations, and BPA migration must remain within legally permitted limits under intended conditions of use.

Is Food Grade Polycarbonate Safe for Drinking Water?

Yes. Food grade polycarbonate is widely used in drinking water applications such as water dispenser bottles, water storage containers, coffee machine reservoirs and beverage equipment. Some grades are specifically developed for long-term drinking water contact and may comply with additional potable water regulations.

Polycarbonate vs Polypropylene: Which Is Better for Drinking Water Containers?

For reusable drinking water containers, food grade polycarbonate is often preferred because of its excellent transparency, impact resistance and long service life. Polypropylene (PP) offers lower cost and good chemical resistance, but polycarbonate generally provides better durability for large-capacity water containers.

Can Food Grade Polycarbonate Hold Hot Water or Boiling Water?

Food grade polycarbonate can withstand moderate hot water exposure. However, long-term contact with boiling water is generally not recommended because elevated temperatures may accelerate material aging and increase BPA migration.

Does High Temperature Increase BPA Migration in Polycarbonate?

Yes. High temperatures, extended contact times and repeated heating cycles can increase BPA migration from polycarbonate materials. Avoiding unnecessary exposure to boiling water can help minimize migration and prolong product life.

What Precautions Should Be Taken When Using Food Grade Polycarbonate Products?

To maximize safety and product performance, users should:

Avoid prolonged exposure to high-temperature environments.
Avoid repeated boiling-water sterilization or high-temperature disinfection.
Avoid strong alkaline cleaners and disinfectants.
Inspect products regularly for cracks, whitening, scratches or signs of aging.
Follow the manufacturer's recommended temperature and usage guidelines.

Polycarbonate (PC) is a high-performance engineering plastic characterized by high transparency and excellent impact resistance. It is commonly used in applications requiring superior impact resistance, such as housings for home appliances, automotive lens covers, skylight panels, medical device casings, and lenses.

However, because polycarbonate naturally contains bisphenol A, it is rarely used in food contact applications. In recent years, however, an increasing number of manufacturers have introduced food-grade polycarbonate. This article will explain in detail why food-grade polycarbonate is suitable for food contact applications, whereas standard-grade polycarbonate is not.

1. Why can't standard grade polycarbonate be used in food applications?

Method 1

Bisphenol A（BPA）
+
Phosgene
↓
Polycarbonate（PC）

Method 2

Bisphenol A（BPA）
+
Diphenyl carbonate（DPC）
↓
Polycarbonate（PC）

The figure on the left shows the synthesis of polycarbonate (PC).

Conventional standard polycarbonate is a polymeric material formed through a polymerization reaction involving bisphenol A; therefore, polycarbonate is essentially composed of bisphenol A (BPA).

⚠️Since the 1990s, it has been established that long-term exposure to low doses of bisphenol A can have certain effects on the human endocrine and reproductive systems, as well as on the growth of fetuses and newborns.

⚠️In particular, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established limits on human exposure to BPA in 2006, significantly lowered those limits in 2023, and completely banned the use of BPA in infant and toddler feeding bottles under Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 in 2011; and the FDA’s subsequent 2012 ban on polycarbonate infant feeding bottles made from bisphenol A, clearly demonstrate the toxicological risks associated with bisphenol A materials. Therefore, the use of PC resin in food contact applications is not recommended.

2. What is the difference between food grade polycarbonate and standard polycarbonate?

Bisphenol A is one of the main components of polycarbonate; therefore, food grade polycarbonate is not free of bisphenol A. Simply set the levels of bisphenol A and its leachable content within safe limits.

		Food grade PC	Standard PC
EU 10/2011 over migration		≤10 mg/d㎡	-
BPA specific migration limit		0.05 mg/kg	-
FDA 21 CFR 177.1580 extractives	Distilled water	≤ 0.15 wt%	-
	50 % Ethanol	≤ 0.15 wt%	-
	n-heptane	≤ 0.15 wt%	-
China GB 4806 over migration		≤10 mg/d㎡	-
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 ^[1]	BPA Release amount	＜ 10 PPB	-
	VOC Release amount	＜ 0.5 mg/L	-
	Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Release amount	＜ 0.5 mg/L	-
	Heavy metals Release amount	Free of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic	-

As can be clearly seen from the above comparison between food grade PC and standard PC, many countries have stricter testing requirements for food-grade PC, particularly regarding migration levels, extractables, and residues.

3. Properties and Applications of Food Grade Polycarbonate:

The image on the left shows a drinking water container made of polycarbonate (PC); the bottom of the container is marked with the "No. 7 PC" label.

Although polycarbonate materials exhibit some toxicity, they possess excellent impact resistance (Izod impact strength at 23°C is 600–1000 J/m, and some grades of PC do not shatter) and high transparency (light transmittance of 85–90%,^[2] lower than PMMA but far higher than other polymers). These properties are unmatched by other polymer materials, which is why polycarbonate is still widely used in many food contact applications.

Common applications of food-grade polycarbonate include: drinking water containers, water tanks for water purifiers, water reservoirs for coffee machines, and food containers

4. Precautions for Food Grade Polycarbonate

Although food-grade PC has been certified by the FDA and under EU Regulation 10/2011 for use in applications involving contact with food and drinking water, its safe use still requires adherence to specific conditions; exceeding these conditions can lead to accelerated leaching of bisphenol A.

4.1 Avoid prolonged exposure to hot water

PC resin is produced by the polymerization of bisphenol A and carbonates. Under normal conditions of use, the migration of bisphenol A from food-grade PC does not exceed regulatory limits, but as demonstrated in the study by Mercea, P. and Le et al.,^[3] When polycarbonate products are exposed to high temperatures for extended periods, the rate of hydrolysis in the material increases significantly, causing bisphenol A migration to exceed legal limits. In particular, repeated sterilization at temperatures above 60°C accelerates the aging of PC materials.

4.2 Avoid strongly alkaline cleaning agents

Polycarbonate (PC) molecular chains contain a large number of carbonate bonds (–O–CO–O–). In strongly alkaline environments, these bonds undergo alkali-catalyzed hydrolysis, leading to the breakdown of the polycarbonate molecular chains, a decline in mechanical properties, surface cracking, and increased BPA release.
⚠️It is particularly important to avoid using sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and strongly alkaline cleaning agents in polycarbonate applications.

4.3 Service Life of PC Products

Even if they comply with food contact regulations, polycarbonate products still have a limited service life.

We recommend replacing the product promptly if any of the following conditions occur:

Visible scratches on the surface
Cracks or significantly reduced clarity
Noticeable yellowing
Severe wear

Damaged polycarbonate products may pose a risk of contaminant adhesion; it is recommended that they be replaced promptly.

5. Which products are explicitly designated as food-grade PC?

As a leading polymer trader and a polymer manufacturer with over 20 years of manufacturing experience, Luoyang Baiyou recommends the following specific food-grade PC resins:

Covestro Makrolon 2456 PC | Food grade

Makrolon 2456 food grade PC resin is manufactured by Covestro AG, a global leader in polycarbonate production. Following the naming conventions of its predecessor, Bayer MaterialScience, it is a PC material specifically designed for food packaging applications and has been approved by the U.S. FDA for food contact use.

Low viscosity; melt volume rate (MVR) at 300°C is 19 cm³/10 min for 1.2 kg. Its high flow rate facilitates the production of thin-walled and complex products, making it a PC resin with a wide range of applications.

Covestro Makrolon WB1239 PC

Makrolon WB1239 PC is a polycarbonate (PC) material specifically designed for the production of drinking water containers and is available only in clear.

High viscosity; the melt volume rate (MVR) at 300°C is 1.2 kg/2 cm³/10 min. The high melt viscosity prevents product deformation during extrusion and blow molding processes, making it particularly suitable for the production of large-capacity water buckets.

References and Notes

NSF,"NSF/ANSI 61: Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects", National Science Foundation, 16/06/2026
Asahi Kasei,"what is polycarbonate (PC)?", Asahi Kasei engineering plastics, 16/06/2026
"Bisphenol A migration from polycarbonate baby bottle with repeated use", Le et al, (2010) ; "Physicochemical Processes Involved in Migration of Bisphenol A from Polycarbonate", , Mercea, P. (2009)

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