Table of Contents:
Table of Contents:
08-06-2025
If you've ever toured a food processing facility or worked in the industry, you've likely heard claims about "FDA-approved" or "USDA-certified" flooring. These statements sound official and reassuring, but here's what might surprise you: the FDA and USDA don't actually certify flooring products at all.
This widespread misconception has created confusion among facility managers, contractors, and even flooring manufacturers. Understanding the truth about these agencies' roles—and what they actually require for flooring—is crucial for making informed decisions that protect both your facility's compliance and your bottom line.
Professionals discuss flooring requirements in an industrial bakery where understanding FDA and USDA guidelines for compliance and safety are crucial.
What the FDA and USDA Actually Do (and Don't Do)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are two of America's most trusted regulatory bodies. The FDA protects consumers from contaminated foods, drugs, and other products, while the USDA focuses specifically on meat, poultry, and egg products along with broader agricultural oversight.
Here's the key distinction: these agencies provide guidelines, not product certifications.
The FDA and USDA don't maintain lists of approved flooring materials. They don't issue certificates or stamps of approval for industrial flooring systems. They don't conduct inspections specifically to certify flooring products. Instead, they outline performance criteria that facilities must meet to maintain compliance.
This means when flooring companies claim their products are "FDA certified" or "USDA approved," they're making misleading statements. There's no official certification process to back up these claims.
Why This Misconception Persists
The confusion stems from several factors. First, the regulatory landscape in food processing is complex, with multiple agencies and standards operating simultaneously. Facility managers often assume that if something is used in a regulated environment, it must be officially approved.
Second, some flooring manufacturers have perpetuated this myth, either through misunderstanding or deliberate marketing tactics. Claims of "FDA compliance" or "USDA approval" can sound more impressive than explaining the nuanced reality of guideline adherence.
Third, the stakes in food processing are incredibly high. When contamination can result in recalls, lawsuits, and damaged reputations, facility managers naturally gravitate toward anything that sounds officially sanctioned.
What the Agencies Actually Require
While the FDA and USDA don't certify flooring, they do establish clear performance standards. According to their guidelines, floors in food processing facilities must be:
Durable and impervious to moisture. The flooring system must withstand the demanding environment of food processing, including regular washdowns, chemical cleaning agents, and heavy equipment traffic.
Easy to clean and sanitize. Surfaces must allow for thorough cleaning and disinfection without harboring bacteria, mold, or other contaminants.
Seamless and non-porous. Joints, cracks, and porous surfaces create hiding places for pathogens and make effective cleaning nearly impossible.
These requirements aren't arbitrary—they're based on decades of food safety research and real-world experience. The agencies recognize that flooring serves as the foundation for facility hygiene. When floors fail, they can compromise the safety of everything produced in that space.
A food manufacturing employee cleans a food transport floor, ensuring contaminants are washed away.
The Real Certification that Matters: HACCP International
While the FDA and USDA don't certify flooring, other organizations do provide meaningful certifications for food processing environments. The most relevant for flooring is HACCP International.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) International is an independent organization that provides guidance on safe facility design and operation. Unlike the regulatory agencies, HACCP International actually certifies products for use in food facilities.
HACCP International defines four "food zones" within facilities and certifies products according to different criteria for each zone. Flooring falls under the "Splash Spill Zone" classification, which covers areas like kitchens, production floors, and processing areas where surfaces may come into contact with food residue but aren't intended for direct food contact.
The certification process is rigorous. HACCP International evaluates both the product itself and how it performs in real-world service. Their criteria include whether the product is well-designed and food-safe, non-toxic, easy to maintain, appropriate for its intended use, and contributes to overall facility food safety.
This certification carries weight because it's based on actual performance standards, not just theoretical compliance with guidelines.
This tortilla chip manufacturer relies on Stonclad UT, an HACCP International certified urethane mortar flooring system by Stonhard.
Stonclad UR flooring polyurethane mortar flooring system carries an HACCP international certification and is designed for rapid installation in food and beverage environments.
Stonclad GS is a high-performance, seamless epoxy flooring system that provides chemical resistance and easy cleaning for this laboratory in a food manufacturing facility. Stonclad GS is HACCP International certified.
Stonshield HRI stands up to constant traffic and heavy loads. It's textured for slip resistance in food environments and carries an HACCP International certification.
Pictured: A Stonclad UF installation for a food processing company. This product offers unique benefits for food & beverage processing spaces. Certified by HACCP International, textured, unsealed, and self-priming -- it's quick to install and provides slip resistance that lasts.
The Stonhard Advantage: Real Certification Meets Proven Performance
Stonhard has earned HACCP International certification for its food and beverage processing flooring systems—a distinction that represents genuine third-party validation of product safety and performance. This certification is valid globally, meaning Stonhard's commitment to food safety standards applies worldwide, not just in specific regions.
But certification is just the beginning. With more than a century of experience in industrial flooring, Stonhard understands the practical realities of food processing environments. The company's seamless flooring systems are engineered to meet and exceed both regulatory guidelines and real-world performance demands.
Stonhard's flooring systems provide the durability needed to withstand constant traffic from forklifts, pallet jacks, and heavy machinery. They resist the harsh chemicals used in industrial cleaning and sanitization processes. Most importantly, Stonhard formulates seamless, non-porous surfaces that eliminate the spaces where bacteria can hide.
Durable, seamless, and chemical resistant: Stonhard flooring systems are built to handle the demands of forklift traffic and industrial cleaning in food processing facilities.
Beyond Compliance: The Business Case for Quality Flooring
Meeting FDA and USDA guidelines isn't just about regulatory compliance—it's about protecting your business. Poor flooring choices can lead to a cascade of problems that extend far beyond the initial installation cost.
Consider the true cost of flooring failure in a food processing facility. When floors develop cracks or wear patterns, they become difficult to clean effectively. This creates potential harboring points for pathogens, increasing the risk of contamination. A single contamination event can trigger product recalls, regulatory investigations, legal liability, and lasting damage to brand reputation.
The indirect costs can be even more significant. Floors that are difficult to clean require more labor and cleaning chemicals. Frequent repairs and maintenance create production downtime. Poor slip resistance in wet areas increases workers' compensation claims and potential OSHA violations.
Quality flooring systems prevent these problems by design. Seamless, non-porous surfaces clean easily and thoroughly. Chemical-resistant formulations maintain their integrity through years of aggressive cleaning protocols. Proper surface textures provide slip resistance without creating areas where debris can accumulate.
Transformation: Stonhard's urethane flooring outperforms traditional floors with grout, offering superior hygiene with durability, chemical resistance, and an easy cleaning.
What to Look for in Food Processing Flooring
When evaluating flooring options for food processing facilities, focus on performance characteristics rather than certification claims. The most important factors include:
Seamless installation capability. Look for systems that can be applied continuously across large areas without joints or seams. Pay attention to how the flooring interfaces with walls, drains, and equipment foundations.
Chemical resistance appropriate for your cleaning protocols. Different facilities use different sanitizing agents. Ensure your flooring can withstand the specific chemicals you use without degrading or discoloring.
Slip resistance suitable for your environment. Wet processing areas require different slip resistance than dry storage areas. The texture should provide safety without creating cleaning challenges.
Thermal shock resistance. Many food processing operations involve temperature variations from hot washdowns or cold storage areas. Materials that are used in high-temperature applications are often exposed to rapid temperature changes which cause thermal stresses and risks for thermal shock damage.[1] Your flooring should handle these changes without cracking or delaminating.
Speed of installation and return to service. Production downtime is expensive. Look for systems that can be installed quickly and allow rapid return to full operation.
Making Informed Decisions in a Complex Regulatory Environment
The key to successful flooring selection in food processing facilities is understanding the difference between marketing claims and meaningful standards. Rather than seeking "FDA approval" that doesn't exist, focus on:
Working with manufacturers who understand the regulatory environment and can provide accurate information about their products' capabilities.
Seeking genuine third-party certifications like HACCP International that represent actual performance validation.
Evaluating flooring systems based on their ability to meet the performance criteria outlined in FDA and USDA guidelines.
Considering the total cost of ownership, including maintenance, cleaning, and potential failure costs, not just initial installation price.
Moving Forward with Confidence
The confusion around FDA and USDA flooring certifications has persisted for too long, creating unnecessary complexity in an already challenging regulatory environment. By understanding what these agencies actually require—and what certifications actually matter—you can make informed decisions that protect both your facility's compliance and your business success.
Remember, the goal isn't to find flooring that's "approved" by regulatory agencies that don't approve flooring. The goal is to select flooring systems that meet or exceed the performance standards these agencies have established based on decades of food safety research and experience.
When you partner with Stonhard, you’re partnering with a manufacturer and installer that holds certifications like HACCP International on products specifically formulated for use in food and beverage plants. It’s more than just compliant flooring—you're getting flooring systems designed and proven to support your facility's success for years to come.
The next time someone mentions "FDA-approved" flooring, you'll know to look deeper. Focus on performance, seek genuine certifications, and choose partners with the experience and expertise to deliver solutions that truly meet your needs.
About Stonhard
Stonhard is the unprecedented world leader in manufacturing and installing high-performance polymer floor, wall and lining systems. Stonhard maintains 300 territory managers and 200 application teams worldwide who will work with you on design specification, project management, final walk-through and service after the sale. Stonhard’s single-source warranty covers both products and installation.
Contact us to learn more about our precision installation methods and specialized products.
About The Author
David Senn
David Senn is Stonhard's Global Accounts Manager. He specializes in team leadership, creative problem solving, global agreements, and developing scalable platforms to deliver client-focused solutions. David holds a Masters in Business Administration from Kent State University.
Related Articles
Loving this Content?
Subscribe to upcoming topics!
