AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question With many different types of metal containers on the market for use as drinking bottles, which are the safest? Sigg uses aluminum, which has been linked to alzheimers, while other brands use stainless steel and surgical stainless steel (kleen kanteen).
Answer Hi Kate,
Aluminum, stainless steel and surgical stainless steel are all approved materials for beverage containers with stainless steel being less reactive than aluminum. Aluminum can react to acidic solutions, thus the recommendation to not store acidic foods (tomatoes, fruit juices, etc for long periods of time in aluminum containers).
The research in the 1960's and 1970's on aluminum and Alzheimer showed that the autopsied brains of Alzheimer patients showed a larger than normal concentration of aluminum. Originally the thought was to avoid foods and cookware containing aluminum. Since then, studies have failed to confirm any role for aluminum in causing Alzheimer’s.
