FDA cGMP · NFPA 660 · Allergen Control
Food & Supplement Manufacturing
Sanitary dust collection for food processing, supplement blending, and ingredient handling: stainless steel construction, allergen isolation, product recovery, and NFPA 660 explosion protection.
DustHog equipment
DustHog units rated for combustible powder
Sugar, flour, starch, protein and most supplement powders test combustible more often than plants expect. That fact picks the collector before airflow does, so these are the DustHog units rated for combustible dry dust.
DustHog SFC Modular Cartridge Collector
Twenty builds from 1,275 to 102,000 CFM. DustHog rates the SFC for combustible and non combustible dry dust.
See DustHog SFC specsDustHog SDC Self Contained Shaker Collector
Nine models from 1,400 to 10,000 CFM, each offered with or without an explosion vent. Combustible and non combustible.
See DustHog SDC specsScientific Pulse Jet Baghouses
Pulse jet baghouses with Scientific’s patented supersonic cleaning nozzle, built in top removal, bottom removal and horizontal configurations for heavy dust loads.
See baghouse optionsDustHog Dust Collectors
The full DustHog line, from portable benches to 102,000 CFM modular cartridge.
See the DustHog linePublished values screen for hazard rather than design for it, because particle size and moisture move the numbers on your specific powder. Lab testing your actual material comes before a model gets named. See the NFPA 660 checklist.
Not sure which of these fits your floor? Tell us what your process puts into the air and we will size it against your actual conditions.
Get a free system reviewFood and supplement manufacturing creates a unique set of dust collection challenges that industrial facilities in other sectors don’t face. The dust itself is often the product (flour, protein powder, spice blends, sugar, vitamins), so every gram captured by the collector is either recovered or wasted. The materials are frequently combustible under NFPA 660, and many are major allergens that require complete isolation between production lines.
On top of that, food-grade facilities operate under FDA 21 CFR 117 (cGMP) requirements that dictate construction materials, surface finishes, cleanability, and documentation. A dust collection system that works fine in a metal fab shop isn’t built for a food-grade facility. You need stainless steel construction, sanitary connections, smooth interior surfaces with no ledges or crevices, and wash-down capability.
A dry climate is actually an advantage for food processing facilities. Low ambient humidity reduces condensation and moisture-related issues in ductwork and collectors. But heat creates its own considerations: high ambient temperatures can affect filter media performance and collector cooling, which we factor into every system we design for hot climates.
Utah’s supplement and nutraceutical corridor along the Wasatch Front is one of the densest in the country, and we size and supply systems for it. Details on our Salt Lake City page.
Installation is handled by an independent ICAP Certified crew or your own contractor.
Challenges
What Makes Food & Supplement Dust Collection Different
Combustible Organic Dust
Flour, sugar, starch, grain dust, protein powders, and spices are all combustible under NFPA 660, which carries forward the former NFPA 61 agricultural and food processing provisions. Lab testing of your own materials gives you the Kst and Pmax values. Your dust hazard analysis (DHA) uses those numbers to set the explosion protection: venting, suppression, or isolation.
Allergen Cross-Contamination
Facilities handling multiple allergens (wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, dairy, egg) need dedicated dust collection for each allergen zone. Shared ductwork between allergen lines creates cross-contamination risk that no amount of cleaning can fully mitigate.
FDA cGMP Requirements
21 CFR 117 requires equipment that can be adequately cleaned and maintained. That means stainless steel construction (304 or 316), smooth interior surfaces with no ledges or crevices for product buildup, sanitary tri-clamp connections, and full wash-down capability.
Product Recovery
In food and supplement manufacturing, the dust your collector captures is often the product itself. Well-designed systems with proper filtration media, clean discharge, and sanitary collection points can recover ingredient dust and return it to the process instead of sending it to waste.
Hygroscopic & Sticky Dusts
Sugar, whey protein, cocoa, and many supplement powders are hygroscopic: they absorb moisture and become sticky. Standard filter media will blind prematurely. Food-grade systems need specialty cartridges with PTFE membrane or oleophobic coatings and controlled humidity management.
Audit & Documentation
FDA audits, SQF/BRC certifications, and third-party food safety inspections all require detailed documentation of your dust collection system: materials of construction, cleaning procedures, filter change logs, DHA records, and explosion protection maintenance.
Systems
Food-Grade Dust Collection Systems
Stainless Steel Cartridge Collectors
304 or 316 stainless construction with smooth interior surfaces, sanitary tri-clamp connections, and wash-down capability. Food-grade filter media with PTFE membrane for fine powders and hygroscopic materials. Self-cleaning pulse-jet systems maintain airflow during production runs.
Product Recovery Systems
Sanitary collection and discharge systems designed to return captured ingredient dust to the process. Clean-out ports, rotary airlocks with food-grade seals, and dedicated recovery hoppers keep reclaimed material at food-grade quality.
Allergen-Isolated Lines
Dedicated collectors and ductwork for each allergen zone, with no shared air paths between wheat, nut, dairy, or soy production lines. Complete physical separation from source capture through final filtration and exhaust.
Explosion Protection
Designed around NFPA 660: explosion venting, chemical suppression, and isolation systems. DHA-driven design based on your specific material’s Kst and Pmax values. Flameless venting available for indoor installations.
Bin Vent Filters
Mounted directly on silos, hoppers, and pneumatic conveying receivers. Stainless steel construction, food-grade gaskets, and self-cleaning cartridges keep dust contained during filling operations while maintaining proper vessel pressure relief.
Sanitary Ductwork
Stainless steel ductwork with sanitary tri-clamp connections for tool-free disassembly and cleaning. Smooth interior welds with no pockets or crevices. Designed for CIP (clean-in-place) or manual wash-down protocols.
Applications
Process Areas We Serve
Powder Mixing & Blending
Protein powders, vitamin premixes, flavor systems, and supplement blends. Dust capture at mixer discharge, bag dump stations, and packaging lines.
Grain & Flour Milling
Wheat, corn, rice, oat, and specialty grain milling. Highly combustible dust requiring NFPA 660 explosion protection throughout the handling chain.
Spice & Seasoning
Grinding, blending, and packaging of herbs, spices, and seasoning blends. Fine particle capture with activated carbon for odor control.
Baking Ingredients
Sugar, starch, baking powder, cocoa, and confectionery ingredients. Many are hygroscopic and require specialty filter media.
Supplement & Nutraceutical
Capsule filling, tablet pressing, powder blending, and packaging. Cross-contamination control between active ingredients and allergen management.
Snack & Cereal Production
Extrusion, frying, seasoning application, and packaging. Oily dusts and seasoning powders require specialty media that resists blinding.
Dairy & Powdered Milk
Spray drying, powder handling, packaging, and CIP-compatible dust collection for dairy-sensitive environments.
Pet Food & Animal Feed
Ingredient receiving, grinding, mixing, extrusion, and coating. High-volume dust generation with combustible dust requirements under NFPA 660.
Compliance
Regulatory Standards We Design To
Food and supplement facilities operate under overlapping regulatory frameworks. We design systems around the applicable standards and supply the documentation packages your audits and certifications ask for.
FDA 21 CFR 117
Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) for human food: equipment design, materials of construction, cleanability, and maintenance documentation.
NFPA 660
The unified combustible dust standard (effective January 1, 2026): DHA requirements, explosion protection, electrical classification, and ongoing management program.
NFPA 61 (now under 660)
The former agricultural and food processing dust standard. Its fire and explosion prevention provisions carry forward inside the unified NFPA 660.
SQF / BRC / FSSC 22000
Third-party food safety certification requirements for dust control, allergen management, equipment maintenance, and environmental monitoring documentation.
Get a Sanitary System Designed Right
We’ll assess your ingredient types, allergen zones, production layout, and compliance requirements, then recommend a food-grade dust collection system that is designed around your FDA requirements and protects your workers.
Serving food & supplement manufacturers nationwide.