Adhesives for Indirect Food Contact: Meeting 21 CFR 175.105 Standards

Ensuring Safety Through Compliance

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a compilation of rules issued by federal agencies, organized into 50 titles by topic. For adhesives, Title 21 – Food and Drugs is an important competency as it sets safety standards for various consumer products related to food and health.

Within Title 21, 21 CFR 175.105 addresses adhesives used in indirect food contact applications. These are applications where an adhesive isn’t in contact with food but could come into contact with food as part of packaging, holding, or food preparation areas. Regulating this ensures both manufacturers and consumers are protected from potential risks. For industries ranging from woodworking to packaging, this regulation establishes that adhesives support both performance and safety compliance under their conditions of use.

Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Indirect Food Contact Applications

Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) play a key role in labels, tapes, and graphics on food packaging. Because these adhesives can come into close proximity with food-contact surfaces, proper compliance is essential.

Common applications include:

• Food and beverage labels
• Adhesive closures for food containers
• Tamper-evident labels or seals
• Tape applications in food processing
• Flexible and rigid packaging

‍Franklin A&P offers PSAs designed for reliable adhesion, clean removability, and FDA-compliant performance. Our solutions work with both direct-coated and transfer-coated processes, giving manufacturers reliable options for food-related applications. Learn more about our PSA product offerings by browsing the product overview page or contacting our team directly.

Wood Adhesives Indirect Food Contact Applications

Wood adhesives are essential in products that may contact food-service environments, providing both durability and safety for convenient preparation materials.

Common applications include:

• Wooden cutting boards
• Countertops and work surfaces
• Wooden storage containers (dry goods boxes, utensil holders, etc.)
• Food preparation materials and surfaces
• Wooden serving trays or panels

‍To meet regulatory requirements without compromising performance, Franklin Adhesives & Polymers offers wood adhesive solutions suitable for indirect food contact, compatible with a variety of manufacturing processes including hot and cold pressing.

Your Trusted Partner

From wood adhesives in food preparation surfaces to PSAs in labels and materials, Franklin Adhesives & Polymers delivers adhesive solutions that support compliance with 21 CFR 175.105 while maintaining performance and durability. Manufacturers can trust these technologies to balance safety, functionality, and reliability in their end use products.

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Franklin Adhesives & Polymers, a division of Franklin International, delivers innovative wood adhesives, specialty polymers, and pressure-sensitive adhesive solutions trusted worldwide since 1935. Franklin Adhesives & Polymers is a division of Franklin International.

About Franklin International: Established in 1935, Franklin International is among the largest privately held manufacturers of adhesives and sealants in the U.S. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the company maintains multiple manufacturing and distribution locations in the U.S. and a plant in Guangzhou, China. The company maintains two divisions: Franklin Adhesives & Polymers provides pressure-sensitive adhesives for labels, tapes and graphics applications, and adhesives for wood assembly markets, and the Construction Division manufactures Titebond-brand wood glues, construction adhesives, sealants and flooring products.

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_{Compliance Note: Proper storage, handling, and application of adhesives by the user are required to meet the performance and regulatory requirements of 21 CFR 175.105. Ultimate responsibility for regulatory compliance rests with the user.}

_Resources

_{FDA. (n.d.). 21 CFR 175.105 – Adhesives. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-175}‍