Every cutting board begins life as a simple idea: combining beauty and utility in an effortless way. Behind that simplicity lies a series of precise decisions regarding materials, finishes and construction methods. One of the most overlooked aspects? The glue.
If you're developing a product that combines multiple wooden elements to achieve long-term stability and planarity, you naturally ask: is wood glue safe for cutting boards?
It's not just a technical detail. The adhesive plays a key role in ensuring the board can withstand moisture, daily use and, most importantly, food contact. In this article, we take a closer look at what constitutes a food-safe glue, the industry's preferred options and how brands can make smart, compliant decisions without compromising design.
In kitchenware design, food safety encompasses the glue that holds the product together. For example, in cutting boards made from multiple pieces of wood or with decorative inlays, the adhesive becomes part of what interacts with food on a daily basis. This is why it must be stable, durable and certified for food contact.
Selecting the right adhesive is crucial for ensuring long-term performance and maintaining a positive brand reputation. Food-safe glue protects the product from wear and tear while meeting customer expectations for quality and safety.
Here’s what a reliable glue should offer:
When multiple pieces of wood are joined together to create a single surface, as with laminated cutting boards or decorative inlays, the glue becomes integral to the product's identity and performance.
Not all glues are designed to withstand direct or indirect contact with food, and even fewer can handle the stress of repeated washing, cutting or exposure to heat and humidity. This is why food safety certifications and how the glue performs once fully cured matter.
A few adhesive types have earned the trust of manufacturers and designers thanks to their reliability, safety and durability. Let's take a look at the three most common options for cutting board production and the key points to consider when evaluating them for your next product line.
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Among the adhesives commonly used for kitchen products, Titebond III is one of the most trusted, especially for cutting boards. It is a water-based aliphatic resin glue that is easy to work with, reliable under pressure and approved by the FDA for indirect food contact once fully cured (but not approved EC 1935:2004)
Its balance of strength, waterproof performance and certified safety makes it particularly well-suited for food-grade wooden products. Once cured, it forms a tight, durable bond that resists moisture and temperature changes, two key factors in the everyday use of kitchen tools.
Titebond III is appreciated for several reasons:
Polyurethane adhesives offer strong bonding capabilities across a wide range of materials, including wood, metal and composites. In the production of cutting boards, they are often chosen for their flexibility, water resistance and structural strength, particularly in products where movement or expansion between components is anticipated.
Unfortunately, not all polyurethane glues are suitable for use with food. While some formulations meet safety standards, others contain solvents or additives that make them unsuitable for kitchen surfaces. Therefore, when producing a chopping board, we always review the technical data sheet to ensure the manufacturer has provided explicit food-contact certification.
Key advantages of polyurethane glues are:
However, these adhesives may require more controlled application conditions, including the use of protective equipment and adequate ventilation. They also tend to foam slightly during curing, which can affect the finish if not properly managed.
Epoxy adhesives are renowned for their exceptional strength and chemical resistance, as well as their ability to form durable bonds even under challenging conditions. In the context of cutting boards, for example, epoxy resins can be used to bond wood or fill decorative inlays, cracks or voids, creating striking visual effects.
Some epoxy formulations are certified as safe for food contact, making them a viable choice for kitchen products. However, food safety must be verified on a case-by-case basis: only resins that are clearly labelled as suitable for food contact should be used in applications involving direct or indirect exposure to food.
The reasons why brands consider epoxy are as follows:
Epoxy systems typically require careful handling and mixing, as well as longer curing times. In large-scale production, this means stricter process control and sometimes longer lead times, factors that should be considered early in the design phase.
At Minelli Group, we understand that the safety of a chopping board or of any other kitchenware item hinges on various factors, such as the glue, finish, production method, and how each element is assembled to meet food contact standards without compromising the design.
Our approach combines decades of experience in material selection with advanced, certified production processes. Every adhesive we use for kitchenware collections is carefully selected for its safety, performance and durability, and is applied in controlled environments to ensure consistent quality. Furthermore, with our R&D Department we selected some glues that are both FDA and EC 1935:2004 approved, so with full compliance and utmost safety for food contact use.
If you’re developing a signature cutting board, serving tray or full kitchenware line, we can help turn your idea into a finished product that’s beautiful, compliant and ready for market.
Get in touch to start your project with the Minelli Group.