Dear LubesnGreases,

Many thanks for your excellent article, clear and yet diplomatic, outlining the problems with the designations for food grade lubricants used by NSF, InS and others (Turning up the Heat, July). Please allow me one small remark, but one that makes it clear where the problem lies.

According to the NSF web page, www.nsfwhitebook.org, the categories for these non-food substances are:

H1 lubricants for incidental food contact.

H2 lubricants for no food contact.

H3 products for rust protection, with no food contact, that need to be wiped off.

3H release agents for food contact, such as mold release and defoamer and several other applications with strict limited levels of presence in the final food, as set out in the U.S. federal regulation 21 CFR 172.878.

In the article, however, you switched H3 with 3H – underlining my argument that it is confusing.

Andre Adam

Mulheim, Germany

Editors note: Mr. Adam is correct. The text on page 35 of the article mistakenly used the designation 3H (release agents allowed in food-processing applications) when describing H3 lubricants, which should never have food contact. According to NSF guidelines, H3 lubes are soluble oils which are chemically acceptable for application to hooks, trolleys, and similar equipment to clean and prevent rust. Those portions of the equipment that contact edible products must be made clean and free of the mixture before reuse.

June issue a treat

Dear LubesnGreases,

How to Grease a Rover – an out-of-this-world topic! Even the reruns, like what is a synthetic, can be new when the perspective changes (Mixing Messages on Synthetics & Blends). And the Guide to Base Oil Refining, like the rest of what yall do, forces people to think. Thanks.

Rod White

Springdale, Ark.

Dear LubesnGreases,

Larry Solomon mentions in his article (Mixing Messages on Synthetics & Blends) that Mobil no longer offers a synthetic blend product, when in fact they do; Mobil Super High Mileage. Super High Mileage is a synthetic blend product if you read the back of the quart bottle – but it is not marketed on the front label as a synthetic blend. Technically they do have an offering, but arent trying to confuse the market.

Nate Longoria

Gardner, Kans.