ARE EPICUREAN CUTTING BOARDS SAFE FOR FOOD CONTACT?Updated 14 days ago
What are Epicurean cutting boards made from?
Epicurean cutting boards are made from a durable thermoset composite of FSC Certified paper and resin, permanently fused under high heat and pressure. This process creates a solid, non-separable material where cellulose fibers and resin are bonded. Unlike plastic cutting boards made from thermoplastics, the material does not melt, soften, or shed microplastics particles, even under heavy use.
Are Epicurean cutting boards safe for food use?
Yes. Epicurean’s cutting board material is NSF Certified for food contact, meeting strict hygiene and safety standards for commercial and residential kitchens.
Unlike many plastic cutting boards, Epicurean cutting boards tested free from detectable microplastic release, combining professional-grade performance with proven food safety. Its knife-friendly surface supports cleanability and resists moisture penetration.
Epicurean’s paper composite material has well over 20 primary food safety documents concerning Material Transparency, 3rd Party Testing/Certifications, and Statements Based on Applicable 3rd Party Testing Results.
Made in the USA
Epicurean’s material is 100% Made in the USA from 100% USA-Sourced Materials, as shown within the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Conformance Statement.
Material Transparency
Safety Data Sheet A Safety Data Sheet provides information about a product’s physical properties.
Health Product Declaration A Health Product Declaration (HPD) is a standardized way for manufacturers to report the materials in a product and the health effects of those materials. HPDs give full transparency of the material components and results of evaluations.
Declare Certification Declare Certification is a product transparency disclosure which allows consumers to understand a product’s composition and potential impact. Epicurean’s paper composite material is “Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List Approved”, which means the products disclose a minimum of 99% of ingredients present in the final product and meet the LBC Red List imperative requirements through one or move approved exceptions.
3rd Party Testing/Certificates
Microplastics Statement and Test Report 1, Test Report 2: Independent analysis verifies that Epicurean's paper composite material is not a source of microplastics and does not release microplastics during normal cutting or washing.
Naturally Antimicrobial Statement and Test. Independent testing to JIS 2801 verifies that the paper composite material is naturally antimicrobial, achieving a ≥99.9% reduction of S. aureus under laboratory conditions—without added antimicrobial agents.
NSF Certification NSF is the organization that tests products to verify they meet public health and safety standards and guarantees products to be easily cleaned and safe for food contact. NSF Certified products are marked accordingly.
Epicurean’s NSF Certification list by product may be referenced here.
EU 10/2011 (EU 1935/2004) This standard sets safety requirements for materials intended to come in contact with food. Regulation ensures that food contact materials do not threaten human health, or change the composition, odor, or taste of the food product.
REACH Compliant REACH certification, or Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals certification, is a European Union (EU) regulation that requires companies to register and evaluate chemicals used in the EU.
GREENGUARD Gold Certification GREENGUARD Certification ensures that a product has met some of the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low emissions of VOCs.
RoHS Compliant RoHS, or Restriction of Hazardous Substances, is a set of European Union (EU) regulations that limit the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
Kosher Certification Epicurean’s paper composite material is manufactured under the supervision of the Kashruth Division of the Orthodox Union and are certified kosher pareve.
PFAS Statement and Certification Epicurean’s paper composite material supplier confirms that its products do not contain intentionally added PFAS (Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), including PFOS, PFOA, or any other related “forever chemicals”.
Statements Based on Applicable 3rd Party Testing Results
EU 2019/1021 Compliance Statement Based on internal formulation data and supplier declarations, Epicurean’s paper composite material is compliant with EU Regulation 2019/1021 (POPs Regulation).
California Prop 65 Statement Epicurean’s paper composite material is not manufactured with intentionally added chemicals listed under Proposition 65.
BPA Statement Based on product formulation knowledge and supplier declarations for raw materials, Epicurean’s paper composite material supplier confirms that bisphenol A (BPA) is not intentionally added during manufacturing.
FDA Food Contact Compliance Statement Natural and Slate material complies with the following U.S. FDA food-contact regulations: 21 CFR 176.170, 21 CFR 176.180, and 21 CFR 177.2410. Based on the compliance of both raw material components and the manufacturing process, Natural and Slate meets the FDA requirements for repeated‑use food‑contact surfaces.
Chemical Transparency & Regulatory Status Statement The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) manages chemical safety through the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program. Our paper composite material is not subject to DTSC restrictions and falls outside of DTSC regulatory scope.
Phthalates Testing Summary Statement Third-party analytical screening for common regulator phthalates shows our paper composite material contains no detectable levels of six commonly regulated phthalates.
Lead Statement Third-party testing confirms that “lead was not detected” in our paper composite material.
CARB Phase 2 Statement This statement confirms that Epicurean’s material supplier meets or exceeds the most stringent formaldehyde emission standards under CARB Phase 2 and U.S. EPA TSCA Title VI.