A stainless-steel water bottle is an environmentally friendly option and is most commonly available in the market. They’ve recently become a target for viral misinformation. A video currently sweeping social media with hundreds of thousands of likes claims that your bottle is “poisoning” you.
This video is a classic example of scaremongering. It makes misleading claims sandwiched between snippets of truth, a common practice used to spread paranoia about food and eating habits.
‘REASON’ BEHIND THE ALARM
To separate claims from scientific reality, we conducted a deep dive into study papers and safety advisories. We also consulted with experts to determine exactly how—if at all—stainless steel affects your health.
Claim 1: Cheap quality stainless steel leaches nickel and chromium when it comes in contact with acidic liquids. Let’s understand what grade of steel is used in manufacturing.
When it comes to utensils and tumblers, food-grade steel is always used due to its durability and non-reactive nature. Food-grade steel is specially formulated with an aim to resist corrosion and chemical leaching. Grades like 304 and 316 are widely used in utensils because of their ability to not react with acidic foods, preventing chemical leaching. 304 is the industry standard, while 316 is superior for high-salt/acidic environments.
In India, the government has made it mandatory for stainless steel and aluminium kitchen utensils to conform to national quality standards, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Similarly, food-grade stainless steel in the US and Europe meets strict safety standards. Key certifications include FDA (CFR 21) in the US and LFGB in Germany/EU.
“High-quality stainless steel will not leach and is generally safe for everyday use provided it meets regulatory standards,” said Dr Satish Sinha, Associate Director, Toxics Link, a toxins and environmental research organisation. Can it be used for drinking acidic liquids? Food-grade stainless steel is reliably safe. Storing such liquids over days should be avoided.
Claim 2: Toss all your steel tumblers and switch to surgical grade.
When asked if one should look for surgical-grade bottles? “Surgical grade is expensive and is not required – it’s taking it too far. Food grade when available is absolutely fine,” said Dr Sinha.
When buying, please check that items labelled only as ‘stainless steel’ without a grade number may not meet food-grade standards. We checked multiple Indian brands that design steel bottles for kids, and they very clearly mentioned food-grade stainless steel 304. This grade is highly recommended, as nickel remains bound within the metal matrix during normal use.
Claim 3: The video also makes another claim that nickel (when leached from stainless steel) disrupts histamine pathways that lead to rashes, eczema, mood swings and irritability.
Well, over-exposure to heavy metals may impact histamine levels, but as established above, food-grade steel does not leach metals.
Therefore, cheap quality should be avoided – “The accumulation of nickel and nickel compounds in the body through chronic exposure may be responsible for a variety of adverse effects on the health of human beings,” explained Dr. Sinha.
When it comes to cookware, the amounts of nickel released into food from cooking utensils are low – the levels are generally safe and well below the tolerable daily intake, according to a study.
“It’s good not to get paranoid by such claims but to get informed and ask simple questions like, ‘Who is posting it? Is he/she reliable?’ Is there a reliable study to support the argument,” commented Krish Ashok, food and science communicator.
