Does Galvanized Sheet Metal Contaminate Food

But bare galvanized metal is not a food safe material for two reasons.

Does galvanized sheet metal contaminate food. Galvanized metal containers are not considered safe for cooking or storage of food. Sheet steel either corrugated or smooth will be fully submerged in molten zinc. Not all galvanized steel is coated in pure zinc. The main risk is from contact with acidic food like pickles.

Cold prevention tablets are one example of the deliberate consumption of zinc. Galvanized fencing is fine. Some galvanized metal is hot treated with an. Stainless steel types such as 304 or 316 are a mix of elements and most contain some amount of iron which easily oxidizes to form rust.

This coating contains zinc which can be toxic when consumed. It s generally recommended not to drink acid juices or other beverages from galvanized metal containers. The presence of two dissimilar metals in an assembly is not always a sign of trouble but it could be a problem. Zinc is not poison.

However in some cases galvanized containers such as garbage cans are pressed into service for large scale cookouts or other meals. Only acidic foods should not come in contact with galvanized steel according the the u s. The galvanizing process creates a coating to the metal that prohibits rust. Using the same logic you may want to avoid growing plants in galvanized steel that require acid soils.

Cooking utensils and storage containers are commonly not made of galvanized steel. For most foods contact with galvanized steelis perfectly safe. When we say it s not food safe we mean you should not cook in zinc pots or serve food out of zinc containers because of the possibility of acidic food or drink dissolving the zinc and you consuming too much of it. But many stainless steel alloys also contain a high percentage of chromium at least 18 percent which is even more reactive than iron.

Food drug administration. Sometimes the metal will be cooled to allow the material to fully bond and then re dipped for a secondary coating. Galvanized steel has been used for almost 2 000 years because of its unrivaled ability to last a very long time and resist rust. The acid in some foods reacts with the zinc coating to form salts that are readily absorbed by the body and in excess could cause a very mild sickness.

Most galvanizing includes a dip in hexavalent chromium and this toxic material even in extremely dilute form has no place in cookware. Stainless steel and galvanized materials often are found together in the industry with applications such as galvanized fasteners stainless steel pressure vessels and roof and siding panels. Hot dipped galvanized steel and electroplated galvanized steel are made using different methods and their zinc galvanized coatings corrode completely differently. This information from oar food sanitation rules page 46.