Are Stainless Steel Water Bottles Safe? Explore the facts

Over the last couple of decades, stainless steel water bottles have exploded to become one of the leading materials used to manufacture reusable water bottles. I bought one several years ago more as a cycling bottle than anything else, but I remember thinking back then, are stainless steel water bottles safe?

Stainless steel water bottles are safe due to their non-porous and non-reactive properties. Bottles made from food-grade stainless steel are the safest with type 304/18-8 grade steel being the most common. A regular, thorough cleaning routine of the bottle is also required for complete safety.

So, that’s the short answer but I love my detail so if you like to know more about why stainless steel water bottles are safe to drink from then please read on.

By the way, if you intend on travelling by plane in the future and intend to take your stainless steel water bottle I’d encourage you to read my other article “Can You Bring a Metal Water Bottle on a Plane?” next.

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Understanding Stainless Steel as a Material

One thing that makes stainless steel, an alloy of iron, great for coming into contact with food is that it is resistant to rusting and corrosion.

It contains at least 11% chromium and may contain elements such as carbon and other nonmetals to obtain other desired properties.

Stainless steel’s resistance to corrosion results from chromium, which forms a passive film that can protect the material and self-heal in the presence of oxygen.

Now that’s all a bit scientific but the real key to the use of stainless steel in food and beverage industries is the steel that’s labelled as food grade.

Food Grade Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Food grade stainless steel is made specifically for uses where the item and the food or beverage come into contact.

Food containers, trays and bottles are all good examples of where this type of steel might be used.

There are several types of food grade stainless steel on the market and here are some of the most common types of food-grade stainless steel:

• Type 304: Type 304 is the most common type of food-grade stainless steel. It is a versatile material that can be used in a variety of applications.
• Type 316: Type 316 is a more corrosion-resistant type of food-grade stainless steel. It is often used in applications where there is a risk of corrosion, such as in marine environments.
• Type 430: Type 430 is a less expensive type of food-grade stainless steel. It is not as corrosion-resistant as type 304 or 316, but it is still a safe and durable material.

As mentioned 304/18-8 food grade stainless steel is the most common and bottles such as the Black+Blum Stainless Steel Water Bottle are made from this type of steel.

Interesting point: this type of steel is termed 18-8 due to its composition of 18% chromium and 8% nickel.

But safety is not all about the steel itself.

A Good Cleaning Routine is Important

Buying the right bottle is important but keeping your bottle clean is also very important when it comes to safety.

Of course, I wash my bottle thoroughly after each use making sure I clean all elements of the bottle including the container, spout/straw, lid, and handle.

I always wash it with vinegar before I store it away as well as when I get it out of storage.

I have another article I’ve written titled “How to Clean Stainless Steel Water Bottles (6 step guide)” which I suggest you read after this.

Top tip, do not use abrasive cleaners on your steel drinking bottle as you make cause scratches spoiling the look.

Stainless Steel Water Bottle and Bacteria

As stainless steel is essentially a non-porous material bacteria are unlikely to build up in any quantity to make drinking from the bottle unsafe.

That said it is important to have a regular cleaning routine and try to sanitise your bottle once a week with a water/vinegar mix as described in my other article.

Pay close attention to the spout or straw as these tend to be fiddlier to clean and often get overlooked when cleaning and you could argue this is the most important part of the bottle to clean.

Can Metal Water Bottles Make You Sick

Again, assuming you have a good cleaning routine it’s very unlikely that drinking from your stainless steel water bottle will make you sick or affect your health in any way.

That said, even if you have a strong cleaning regime there are a couple of other things you can do to make sure you don’t become ill from your water bottle.

• Direct Sunlight
  Avoid leaving your water bottle in direct sunlight or heat as this can create an environment that helps bacteria grow.

• No Sharing
  Do not share your water bottle with others as this can spread gems from one person to another.

Are Stainless Steel Water Bottles Safer Than Plastic

For years now stainless steel water bottles have been considered safer than plastic and this view remains in place today.

The two main reasons are:

1. Stainless steel is a non-porous material helps which reduces the chances of bacteria growth
2. Stainless steel is a non-reactive material which means ensures that chemicals from the steel itself will not leach into the beverage.

To point #2 specifically, many plastic water bottles used to contain a chemical called BPA before it was widely understood that this chemical was leaching into the water itself.

These types of bottles are rarely seen nowadays which is good but there are so many other reasons why you wouldn’t buy a plastic water bottle right?

Common FAQs

What Is the Healthiest Material for a Water Bottle?

Glass and Stainless Steel are the healthiest materials for water bottles as they both have non-porous and non-reactive properties. These properties ensure that bacteria do not build up in the water bottle and that chemicals do not leach into the liquid contained.

Is There BPA In Stainless Steel Water Bottles?

As a general rule, stainless steel water bottles do not contain BPA. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in some plastics and so if a water bottle does not contain plastic components, such as a lid, straw or spout then it won’t contain BPA. If unsure check the manufacturer’s labelling.

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