Using the wrong degreaser in a food facility is a CFIA critical violation waiting to happen. Most commercial kitchen operators know they need a "food-safe" degreaser — but few know what that actually means, which certifications to look for, or how to calculate the real cost per use.
This guide breaks down exactly what makes a degreaser food safe, where NSF certification applies, which formulas meet Canadian food-facility inspection standards, and which Canadian-made products deliver the best value for commercial kitchens, food processing plants, and catering operations.
- Food-safe degreasers use plant-derived or approved inorganic surfactants with no petroleum residues — the defining distinction from standard industrial degreasers used in workshops or garages.
- CFIA food facility inspections require cleaning chemicals to be food-grade on food-contact surfaces; a non-approved degreaser on a prep table or fryer basket is a critical violation risk.
- JANITORI No.71 plant-based formula delivers a working solution cost of $0.19/L at 1:40 dilution — versus $0.50 to $6.35/L for ready-to-use commercial brands.
- NSF K1 certification allows no-rinse use on food-contact surfaces; NSF K2 requires a post-rinse step but covers heavier carbonized grease and baked-on buildup.
- What Makes a Degreaser Food Safe?
- Does It Need NSF K1 or K2 Certification?
- Where Should You Use a Food-Safe Degreaser vs. a Regular One?
- Which Food Safe Degreaser Is Best for Canadian Commercial Kitchens?
- How Much Does a Food Safe Degreaser Cost per Use?
- Are Plant-Based Degreasers Food Safe?
- What Does CFIA Inspect for During a Kitchen Cleaning Audit?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes a Degreaser Food Safe?
A degreaser is food safe when its active ingredients are approved for use on or near food-contact surfaces — meaning they leave no harmful chemical residues after normal use at the recommended dilution. The critical factors are: surfactant source (plant-derived vs petroleum-derived), solvent class (no aromatic hydrocarbons, no chlorinated solvents), and rinse requirement (no-rinse at dilution = K1; rinse required = K2).
Standard industrial degreasers — including petroleum-based alkaline cleaners, solvent blends, and products containing EDTA, NTA, or quaternary ammonium compounds above food-safe thresholds — are not approved for food-contact surfaces. They are designed for workshops, mechanical areas, and general facility maintenance where residue contact with food is not a risk.
The practical marker: look for either NSF certification (K1 or K2), USDA authorization, or explicit manufacturer documentation confirming the formula is composed of approved food-safe ingredients per CFIA Guidelines on Cleaning and Sanitation. No certification label with no documentation = not food safe.
Does It Need NSF K1 or K2 Certification?
NSF K1 and K2 are the international standard for food-safe cleaning compounds. Whether your degreaser needs one depends on where you are using it — but NSF certification is the easiest way to guarantee compliance during inspections.
NSF International defines the categories as:
| Certification | What It Means | Rinse Required? | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| K1 (No-Rinse) | Safe residue on food-contact surfaces at use dilution | No | Prep tables, shelves, equipment exteriors, packaging lines |
| K2 (Rinse-Required) | Not safe at full concentration; safe after rinse | Yes | Fryer baskets, grills, baked-on buildup, heavy carbonized grease |
Canadian food facilities are not legally required to use only NSF-certified products — CFIA requires food-grade chemicals without mandating the NSF mark specifically. However, NSF certification is the simplest documentation to show an inspector. A plant-based, petroleum-free formula with manufacturer documentation confirming food-grade ingredients can satisfy CFIA requirements without the NSF mark.
Where Should You Use a Food-Safe Degreaser vs. a Regular One?
Use a food-safe degreaser on any surface that contacts or may contact food. Use a standard industrial degreaser only in zones with no food-contact risk.
| Zone | Examples | Degreaser Type Required |
|---|---|---|
| Food-contact surfaces | Prep tables, cutting boards, equipment internals, shelves | Food-safe (K1 or K2) |
| Food preparation adjacent | Counters near prep, walls behind prep stations, handles | Food-safe (K1 recommended) |
| Kitchen hood and exhaust | Hood filters, fans, ductwork | Food-safe (K2 acceptable — rinse is part of the protocol) |
| Mechanical / non-food zones | Loading dock floors, garage bays, compressor rooms | Standard industrial degreaser acceptable |
A common mistake: using a standard workshop degreaser on kitchen floors, then mopping into food prep areas. If runoff or mop water contacts prep surfaces, you have introduced a non-food-safe chemical into the food zone. See our commercial kitchen hood degreaser guide for zone-by-zone NFPA 96 cleaning requirements.
Which Food Safe Degreaser Is Best for Canadian Commercial Kitchens?
For Canadian commercial kitchens, the best food-safe degreaser combines plant-based surfactants, no petroleum residues, proven grease cut at commercial dilution ratios, and a Made-in-Canada supply chain. JANITORI Degreaser No.71 delivers all four.
| Product | Formula | Food Safe? | VOC | Dilution | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JANITORI No.71 | Plant-based surfactants | Yes | 0% | 1:40 | Made in Canada |
| JANITORI No.72 MAX | Plant-based, heavy-duty | Yes (K2 use) | 0% | 1:20 to 1:40 | Made in Canada |
| Simple Green | Water-based, low-VOC | Yes (rinse required) | Low | 1:30 | USA |
| Dustbane Foodservice | Chemical concentrate | Yes (food-grade line) | Varies | Varies | Canada |
| Zep Industrial Purple | Petroleum-based | No | Moderate | 1:10 | USA |
JANITORI No.71 is made in Montreal from plant-derived surfactants with zero VOC content, zero petroleum solvents, and no EDTA, NTA, chlorine, or phosphates. It is part of our biodegradable cleaning products line — used by hotels, arenas, and commercial kitchens across Canada since 2010. Available in 4L ($26.95) and 20L bulk.
How Much Does a Food Safe Degreaser Cost per Use?
JANITORI No.71 at 1:40 dilution costs $0.19 per litre of working solution — among the lowest cost-per-use food-safe degreasers in Canada. At 1:20 for heavy grease, it rises to $0.34/L. Ready-to-use brands run $0.50 to $10.65/L.
| Product | Price (4L) | Dilution | Working Solution Yield | Cost / L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JANITORI No.71 | $26.95 | 1:40 | 164L | $0.19 |
| JANITORI No.72 MAX | $29.95 | 1:20 | 84L | $0.36 |
| Simple Green (RTU 32oz) | ~$8.99 (0.95L) | RTU | 0.95L | $9.47 |
| Zep Kitchen Pro (RTU) | ~$7.99 (750mL) | RTU | 0.75L | $10.65 |
| Krud Kutter (Canadian Tire) | ~$9.49 (650mL) | RTU | 0.65L | $14.60 |
For a commercial kitchen using 20L of working degreaser per week, the annual cost difference between JANITORI No.71 ($0.19/L) and a RTU brand at $10.65/L is approximately $10,878 per year. Even against a mid-range brand at $1.50/L, the annual saving is $1,361.
Shop Degreaser No.71 — $26.95 / 4L
Are Plant-Based Degreasers Food Safe?
Yes — plant-based degreasers with no petroleum solvents, no chlorinated compounds, and no EDTA or NTA are inherently food-safe by formulation. The surfactants derived from coconut, corn, or citrus oils are biodegradable, non-toxic, and approved for food-contact surface use per CCOHS WHMIS guidelines when used at approved dilution ratios.
The distinction matters: biodegradable does not automatically mean food safe. Some biodegradable cleaners still contain petroleum-derived surfactants or quaternary ammonium compounds that are not approved for food-contact surfaces at certain concentrations. Always verify the SDS and ingredient list against CFIA food-grade requirements.
JANITORI No.71 and No.72 MAX are formulated exclusively with plant-derived ingredients — no petroleum, no solvents, 0% VOC — and carry WHMIS SDS documentation confirming safe use at all recommended dilutions. Made in Canada since 2010 (parent company E.R.E. Inc., est. Montreal 1994).
What Does CFIA Inspect for During a Kitchen Cleaning Audit?
CFIA inspectors evaluate cleaning chemical use under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). The key inspection criteria for degreasers and cleaners are: whether the chemical is approved for its intended use (food-contact or non-food-contact), whether it is used at the correct dilution, and whether written cleaning procedures (Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures, or SSOPs) are in place.
- Chemical approval: CFIA requires food-grade chemicals on food-contact surfaces. Food-grade means the active ingredients are listed on the Permitted Chemicals List or equivalent documentation.
- Dilution compliance: Using a chemical above the approved concentration — too concentrated — can render it non-compliant even if the formula is otherwise food-grade.
- SDS on site: The Safety Data Sheet for every cleaning chemical must be accessible during inspection. JANITORI provides SDS for all products on request.
- Written SSOPs: Facilities operating under the SFCR must document cleaning schedules, chemicals used, dilution ratios, and sign-off procedures.
Using JANITORI No.71 or No.72 MAX — with their plant-based formulas, 0% VOC, and no prohibited substances — simplifies CFIA compliance. Their SDS documents are straightforward and their formulas are clearly documented for SSOP inclusion. See our industrial degreaser buyer's guide for a full product comparison across Canadian facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degreasers are food safe?
Food-safe degreasers use plant-derived surfactants, inorganic alkaline agents, or other approved ingredients with no petroleum solvents, chlorinated compounds, or excess quaternary ammonium concentrations. In Canada, look for NSF K1/K2 certification or manufacturer documentation confirming CFIA food-grade compliance. JANITORI No.71 and No.72 MAX are plant-based, petroleum-free, and food-safe at recommended dilutions.
Do commercial kitchens need NSF certified cleaners?
CFIA does not mandate the NSF mark specifically — it requires food-grade chemicals on food-contact surfaces. NSF K1/K2 is the easiest documentation to present to an inspector, but a plant-based formula with a clean SDS confirming approved ingredients satisfies the same regulatory requirement.
Is Zep degreaser food safe?
Zep's standard industrial degreasers (Purple, Orange) are not food safe — they are petroleum-based or contain ingredients not approved for food-contact surfaces. Zep does offer specific NSF-listed products in its commercial line; verify the product data sheet before use in a food facility. When in doubt, use a plant-based food-grade formula with documented ingredients.
Can I use a degreaser near food preparation areas?
Yes, if the formula is food-grade. At the correct dilution, JANITORI No.71 can be used on prep tables, shelves, equipment surfaces, and kitchen walls without residue concerns. Follow your SSOP: apply at the recommended dilution, allow contact time, wipe or rinse per the label, and document in your sanitation log.
What degreaser do Canadian commercial kitchens use?
Canadian commercial kitchens most commonly use alkaline concentrate degreasers applied at 1:20 to 1:40 dilution for daily grease maintenance and higher concentrations for periodic deep-cleaning of hoods and fryers. JANITORI No.71 and No.72 MAX are made in Montreal and used by Canadian restaurants, hotels, schools, and arenas.
Get Degreaser No.71 — Made in Canada
Get Degreaser MAX No.72 — Heavy-Duty