# Food Safe Degreaser for Commercial Kitchens: A Facility Manager's Guide > What makes a degreaser food safe? Learn NSF K1/K2 certification, CFIA requirements, and the best plant-based options for Canadian commercial kitchens. - **URL:** https://janitori.com/blogs/the-clean-room/food-safe-degreaser-for-commercial-kitchens-guide 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. **Key Takeaways** - 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. **Table of Contents** - [What Makes a Degreaser Food Safe?](#what-makes-food-safe) - [Does It Need NSF K1 or K2 Certification?](#nsf-k1-k2) - [Where Should You Use a Food-Safe Degreaser vs. a Regular One?](#where-to-use) - [Which Food Safe Degreaser Is Best for Canadian Commercial Kitchens?](#best-picks) - [How Much Does a Food Safe Degreaser Cost per Use?](#cost-per-use) - [Are Plant-Based Degreasers Food Safe?](#plant-based) - [What Does CFIA Inspect for During a Kitchen Cleaning Audit?](#cfia-inspection) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq) ## 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](https://inspection.canada.ca/food-safety-for-industry/safe-food-production/cleaning-and-sanitation/eng/1341029244358/1341029312340). 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](https://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/articles/food-safe-chemicals) 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](https://inspection.canada.ca) 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](/blogs/the-clean-room/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](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71) delivers all four. | Product | Formula | Food Safe? | VOC | Dilution | Origin | **[JANITORI No.71](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71)** | Plant-based surfactants | Yes | 0% | 1:40 | Made in Canada | **[JANITORI No.72 MAX](/products/degreaser-max-janitori-no-72)** | 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](/products/degreaser-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](/collections/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](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71)** | $26.95 | 1:40 | 164L | **$0.19** | **[JANITORI No.72 MAX](/products/degreaser-max-janitori-no-72)** | $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](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71) ## 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](https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/cleaners.html) 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](/blogs/the-clean-room/best-industrial-degreasers-in-canada-2026-buyers-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](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71) [Get Degreaser MAX No.72 — Heavy-Duty](/products/degreaser-max-janitori-no-72) ## Related Articles - [Best Industrial Degreasers in Canada: 2026 Buyer's Guide](/blogs/the-clean-room/best-industrial-degreasers-in-canada-2026-buyers-guide) - [Commercial Kitchen Hood Degreaser: The Professional's Cleaning Guide](/blogs/the-clean-room/commercial-kitchen-hood-degreaser-guide) - [Biodegradable Cleaning Products: Complete Buyer's Guide for Canadian Facilities (2026)](/blogs/the-clean-room/biodegradable-cleaning-products-complete-buyers-guide-for-canadian-facilities-2026) - [Commercial Disinfectant vs Regular Cleaner: What Facilities Managers Need to Know](/blogs/the-clean-room/commercial-disinfectant-vs-regular-cleaner-what-facilities-managers-need-to-know) - [Cleaning vs Sanitizing vs Disinfecting: A Practical Guide for Canadian Facilities](/blogs/the-clean-room/cleaning-vs-sanitizing-vs-disinfecting-a-practical-guide-for-canadian-facilities-managers) - [Stainless Steel Polish for Commercial Kitchens: A Facility Manager's Guide](/blogs/the-clean-room/stainless-steel-polish-for-commercial-kitchens-a-facility-managers-guide)