What is FoodSAFE? The Complete Guide to Food Safe Fabrics

What FoodSAFE Is and What Problem It Solves

FoodSAFE is AKAS Tex's line of fabrics certified for direct food contact under FDA regulations. Unlike standard fabrics that may be chemical-free or CPSIA certified for children's products, FoodSAFE fabrics have been independently tested at an approved laboratory to verify that no harmful substances migrate from the fabric into food — across all food types, temperatures, and storage conditions.

Key Concept: Being "chemical free," "BPA free," or "CPSIA certified" does not make a fabric food safe. Food-contact certification requires three things working together: approved base materials, approved manufacturing processes (including dyes, finishes, and adjuvants), and passed extraction testing for specific food types at specific temperatures. A fabric can meet the first two requirements and still fail the third.

The problem FoodSAFE solves is straightforward: most fabrics on the market — including many marketed as "safe" or "eco-friendly" — have never been tested for food contact. Rip-stop nylon, oilcloth, and standard PUL (even lead-free, BPA-free, phthalate-free versions) are not listed in the FDA's food-contact regulations. Even cotton fabric, which is generally considered safe for dry food, only qualifies if manufactured with approved adjuvants and processes. Carcinogenic or toxic chemicals used during manufacturing can remain in fabric and leach into food — particularly into oils and fats — even after hot washing.

FoodSAFE fabrics span all five Wazoodle brand families: ProSoft waterproof PUL, ProECO organic and natural fibers, ProCool performance wicking, Zorb super-absorbent, and specialty mesh and ProCare constructions. Over 60 FoodSAFE SKUs provide food-contact-certified options for virtually every fabric function in the Wazoodle ecosystem.

How Food-Contact Certification Works: The FDA Framework

Food-contact safety for textiles is governed by Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR), administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Parts 170–199 of Chapter 1 contain the lists of materials approved for food contact and the conditions they must meet. The commonly referenced GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list does not cover textiles or fabrics — it applies to food substances, not packaging or contact materials.

Three Requirements for Food-Contact Certification

Approved base materials: The fabric's fiber content must be listed in 21 CFR as acceptable for food contact. Even approved fibers fail this requirement if blended with unapproved materials.
Approved manufacturing processes: Every adjuvant used during manufacturing — dyes, finishing oils, softeners, printing inks, lamination adhesives — must also be Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS). This is where most fabrics fail: safe fibers processed with unsafe chemicals are not food safe.
Passed extraction testing: The finished fabric must be tested by exposing it to food simulants (water, acids, fats, oils) at specific temperatures, then analyzed for migrated chemicals. Results define exactly which food types, temperatures, and storage conditions the fabric is certified for.

For waterproof fabrics and any fabric used with foods beyond dry goods, 21 CFR 175.300 (coatings for food contact) governs certification. For polyurethane-based laminates like ProSoft PUL, 21 CFR 177.1680 (polyurethane resins) additionally applies.

How ProSoft FoodSAFE PUL Was Tested

AKAS Tex submitted the complete fabric (not a container design) for testing at an FDA-approved laboratory in the United States under worst-case conditions for all food types except alcoholic beverages. Both the fabric side and the film side were tested for direct food contact.

Certified Food Categories

Acidic and non-acidic aqueous products (including salt, sugar, free oil/fat, and emulsions)
Dairy products and all modifications
Fats and oils
Non-alcoholic beverages
Bakery products
Dry solids

Certified Storage Conditions

Heat-sterilized at high temperature (above 212°F) in the container
Sterilized by boiling water
Hot-filled or pasteurized above 150°F
Hot-filled or pasteurized below 150°F
Filled at room temperature and stored
Refrigerated storage
Frozen storage (down to -4°F)
Frozen ready-prepared foods reheated in container

The ProSoft FoodSAFE PUL passed all test parameters under the most severe conditions for repeated-use food storage — making it certified for virtually every food storage scenario short of alcoholic beverages.

What degrades food safety over time: Harsh detergents, high-heat washing beyond specified limits, UV exposure, and physical wear can alter coating chemistry and compromise laminated structures. Follow care instructions to maintain food-contact integrity through the fabric's rated wash cycles.

The FoodSAFE Product Landscape

FoodSAFE certification spans all five Wazoodle brand families, giving you food-contact-certified options across every primary fabric function: waterproof barrier, natural fiber base, performance wicking, super-absorbent core, and specialty mesh.

ProSoft FoodSAFE — Waterproof PUL Barrier Fabrics

The largest FoodSAFE category with 15+ SKUs spanning standard weight, lightweight, heavy duty, and ultra heavy duty PUL constructions
Includes stretch-fit variants (Lycra 4-way stretch) and no-stretch options
Available with organic cotton, bamboo, and synthetic jersey bases
REPREVE recycled polyester options for sustainability-focused projects
Print options available in select weights
Primary function: Waterproof food-contact barrier — food storage bags, bowl covers, lunch bag linings, countertop liners

ProECO FoodSAFE — Organic and Natural Fiber Fabrics

15+ SKUs in organic cotton (interlock, jersey, fleece, french terry, twill, sherpa), bamboo viscose, and merino wool
Multiple weight classes from sheer jersey LITE to super heavy fleece
Stretch-FIT variants with Lycra integration and standard non-stretch options
Print options in select organic cotton twill
Primary function: Food-contact-safe natural fiber layers — baby bibs (absorbent face), produce bags, cheese cloth alternatives, napkins, table textiles

ProCool FoodSAFE — Performance Wicking Fabrics

10+ SKUs including pique mesh, jersey mesh, interlock, cooling stretch, and Supima cotton
Lightweight to medium weight constructions
REPREVE recycled polyester options available
Primary function: Food-contact-safe wicking and breathability — mesh straining (coffee filters, nut milk bags, tea bags), ventilated food covers, cooling liners

Zorb FoodSAFE — Super-Absorbent Fabrics

8+ SKUs including 3D organic cotton dimple, bamboo dimple, polyester dimple, diamond, and microfiber loop terry
LITE and standard weight options
Primary function: Food-contact-safe absorption — absorbent liners in food containers, moisture management in produce storage, spill-absorbing kitchen layers

Specialty FoodSAFE

FoodSAFE Sturdy Multipurpose Mesh (W-335): Stiff mesh construction for straining, filtering, and open-weave food-contact applications
ProCare FoodSAFE (W-443): Waterproof food-contact fabric — an alternative to ProSoft FoodSAFE PUL for specific applications

How to Choose: Navigating FoodSAFE Options

Selecting the right FoodSAFE fabric starts with identifying what your fabric needs to do — the same decision framework used across all Wazoodle brand families, filtered for food-contact certification.

Choose by Primary Function

Need waterproof barrier? → ProSoft FoodSAFE PUL. Then choose weight (lightweight for bags, heavy duty for countertop liners), stretch (Stretch-FIT for body-contour items like bibs, no-stretch for flat constructions), and base fabric (organic cotton for softness, synthetic for durability).
Need absorbency? → Zorb FoodSAFE. Choose surface style (organic cotton for skin contact, stay-dry polyester for wicking) and weight class (LITE for supplemental layers, standard for primary absorption).
Need wicking or breathability? → ProCool FoodSAFE. Choose mesh for straining/filtering applications or interlock/jersey for smooth food-contact surfaces.
Need natural fiber base? → ProECO FoodSAFE. Choose fiber (organic cotton, bamboo, merino wool), construction (interlock for smooth, fleece for soft, twill for structured), and weight class for your application.
Need multiple functions combined? → Layer FoodSAFE fabrics from different brand families. For example: ProCool FoodSAFE wicking liner + Zorb FoodSAFE absorbent core + ProSoft FoodSAFE PUL waterproof outer.

All layers touching food must be FoodSAFE certified. Using a FoodSAFE PUL outer with a non-FoodSAFE cotton inner defeats the purpose — the uncertified inner fabric is the surface contacting your food. Verify FoodSAFE certification on every layer in your build that will touch food.

Common Applications for FoodSAFE Fabrics

FoodSAFE fabrics serve any application where fabric directly contacts food and the maker wants verified safety — not assumed safety. Common applications include:

Reusable food storage: Sandwich bags, snack pouches, freezer bags, produce bags, meat storage, butter wrappers, soup bags, bowl covers with elastic edges — replacing single-use plastic bags and cling wrap
Baby and infant feeding: Bibs, burp cloths, nursing pads, breast milk storage pouches, high chair covers — where chemical safety for vulnerable populations is critical
Kitchen and food preparation: Countertop liners, table mats, tablecloths, dough-rising covers, pastry cloth, pizza box liners, unpaper plates, lunch box liners
Straining and filtering: Coffee filters, tea bags, nut milk straining, cheese making — using FoodSAFE mesh and lightweight interlock
Commercial food handling: Conveyor belt liners, baked goods shelf liners, food processing surface covers — where FDA compliance may be required for commercial operations
Adaptive feeding: Adult bibs for individuals with disabilities requiring food-safe, waterproof, washable protection during mealtimes

What FoodSAFE Is NOT: Misconceptions and Questions to Ask Any Supplier

FoodSAFE certification is frequently confused with other safety claims. Understanding what does not qualify as food safe protects you and your customers.

Common Misconceptions

"CPSIA certified" does not mean food safe. CPSIA tests for children's product safety (lead, phthalates, flammability). It does not test for chemical migration into food. A fabric can be CPSIA certified and completely unsuitable for food contact.
"Chemical free" does not mean food safe. Being free of PFAS, BPA, and phthalates is necessary but not sufficient. The manufacturing process — dyes, finishing oils, adjuvants — must also be verified, and the finished fabric must pass extraction testing.
The GRAS list does not cover textiles. The FDA's Generally Recognized As Safe list applies to food substances, not packaging materials or fabrics. Companies referencing GRAS to prove fabric food safety are applying the wrong standard.
Rip-stop nylon, oilcloth, and standard PUL are not FDA-listed for food contact. Even when these fabrics are lead-free and BPA-free, they have not been tested under 21 CFR for chemical migration into food.
Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treated fabrics are not food safe. Water resistance does not equal food-contact certification. DWR treatments often use chemical formulations not tested for food contact.

Questions to Ask Any Fabric Supplier

Before purchasing fabric for food-contact use from any supplier, ask these questions. A supplier who cannot answer them should not be trusted for food-safe applications:

With what section of 21 CFR does your fabric comply?
What oils, additives, dyes, or finishing agents were used during manufacturing?
Where is the fabric manufactured, and have you seen the manufacturing process?
If the fabric is laminated or coated, is the lamination done with an approved polyurethane or resin?
With what kinds of foods has this fabric been tested?
At what temperatures has it been tested?
Is the fabric food safe, or is it CPSIA certified? (These are different certifications.)
Does the fabric come with a statement of assurance for food-contact compliance?
Will the manufacturer issue a certificate quoting its passed standards?

Why Wazoodle can answer all nine: AKAS Tex manufactures all FoodSAFE fabrics in their Pennsylvania facility with full control over fiber sourcing, dyeing, finishing, and lamination. Vertical integration means every adjuvant, dye, and process step is documented and verified — the same team that makes the fabric handles the FDA compliance testing.

Where FoodSAFE Fits in the Wazoodle Ecosystem

FoodSAFE is not a separate brand family — it is a certification tier that crosses all five Wazoodle brand families. Any fabric in the Wazoodle catalog with "FoodSAFE" in its name has been independently tested and certified for direct food contact under 21 CFR regulations.

Brand Routing: Choose ProSoft FoodSAFE when you need waterproof barrier + food contact. Choose ProECO FoodSAFE when you need natural fiber + food contact. Choose ProCool FoodSAFE when you need wicking/mesh + food contact. Choose Zorb FoodSAFE when you need absorbency + food contact. The "FoodSAFE" designation adds food-contact certification to the base brand's primary function.