Overview
ISO 14285:2014 - "Rubber and plastics gloves for food services - Limits for extractable substances" defines chemical safety limits and test procedures for single‑use food‑service gloves made from natural rubber, synthetic rubber or plastics (PVC, PE, PP). The standard focuses on extractable chemical substances (not biological contaminants or general physical performance) and sets maximum allowable levels, specified test methods, and sample‑preparation conditions for routine conformity testing.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and exclusions
- Applies to single‑use gloves for food preparation and handling; does not cover extractable biological substances, general physical requirements, gloves used under extreme conditions (pH < 4.5 or temperature > 40 °C), gloves exposed to fats/oils, or blended‑polymer gloves.
- Glove types covered
- Type 1: Natural rubber latex
- Type 2: Synthetic latex
- Type 3: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- Type 4: Polyethylene (PE)
- Type 5: Polypropylene (PP)
- Chemical limits
- Heavy metals (µg/ml) - limits when tested per Annex A (ICP‑OES):
- Arsenic (As) ≤ 0.05
- Cadmium (Cd) ≤ 0.05
- Chromium (Cr) ≤ 0.5
- Lead (Pb) ≤ 0.5
- Zinc (Zn) ≤ 15.0
- Potassium permanganate consumption ≤ 10 µg/ml (Annex B)
- Evaporation residue ≤ 100 µg/ml for both distilled water and 10% ethanol extracts (Annex C)
- Phthalates: total phthalate content for Type 3 (PVC) gloves ≤ 0.1% (m/m); measured per Annex D or EN 14372
- Test & sample preparation
- Typical extraction: cut 5 cm × 5 cm test pieces (50 cm² each); use two pieces (100 cm²) for some tests.
- Extraction conditions: 40 ± 1 °C for 10 ± 1 min; media vary by test (4% acetic acid for heavy metals; distilled water for KMnO4 and residue; 10% ethanol for residue).
- Labelling & use
- Single‑use only; manufacturers must provide usage guidance. Natural rubber latex gloves require an allergy warning label.
Applications and users
ISO 14285:2014 is used by:
- Glove manufacturers for product development and compliance testing
- Quality control and analytical laboratories (ICP‑OES testing, titration, gravimetric residue)
- Foodservice operators and procurement teams seeking compliant single‑use gloves
- Regulators and conformity assessment bodies assessing chemical safety of food‑contact gloves
Practical benefits include harmonized test methods, clear chemical limits to reduce consumer exposure, and guidance for lab sampling and labelling.
Related standards
- ISO 11193‑1 and ISO 11193‑2 - physical requirements for gloves (referenced as related)
- EN 14372 - referenced for phthalate determination and related procedures
Keywords: ISO 14285:2014, food service gloves, extractable substances, heavy metals, phthalates, potassium permanganate consumption, evaporation residue, single‑use gloves, PVC, latex, ICP‑OES.