Question Some people say the chromium and nickel content in stainless steel bottles make them not safe for carrying water all over with this kind of bottle. And we no longer use plastic bottles. Are stainless steel bottles safe or should we use something else? If so, what is that?
Answer The risk of minerals leaching into water from a stainless bottle is very low. Stainless steel is used widely in the food industry, and while some grades can leach chromium and nickel, those used for food contact receive an additional step to reduce leaching.
Klean Kanteen, one manufacturer of stainless steel bottles provides this information on their website:
Made from electropolished, non-leaching, high grade 304 L.N. (18/8) stainless steel. Klean Kanteen’s 304 L.N. stainless steel is grade blended specifically for food preparation, dairy, brewing, various medical uses and other applications where mineral migration is unacceptable. The steel is put through a electropolishing process which seals the surface and prevents minerals from migrating into the contents. These reusable, risk-free stainless steel containers do not impart taste and do not leach toxins into their contents. Plastics (polycarbonate) have been shown to leach carcinogens including BPA during regular use, exposure to heat and especially after cleaning. From manufacturing, to use and disposal, plastics pollute our health and environment.
Stainless steel is an iron-containing alloy made from some of the basic elements found on earth: iron ore, chromium, silicon, nickel, carbon, nitrogen, and manganese. Properties of the final alloy are tailored by varying amounts of these elements. There are more than 57 stainless steels recognized as standard alloys on the market. Klean Kanteens are constructed from high quality sanitary grade 304 stainless steel which has a low nickel content. Stainless steel has excellent resistance to stain or rust due to its chromium content making it a material of choice among the food processing, dairy and brewery industries. Stainless steel is easy to clean, durable, inert and sanitary.
