Does Stainless Steel Contain Lead?
Lead has been in human use for thousands of years so it’s safe to say it has seen its fair share of uses. From industrial grade paint to batteries to ammunition, lead is still prevalent in our society & there’s no slowing down. However, has lead ever infiltrated the metal we’ve come to know & love – stainless steel? IMC is here to break down the facts.
In this article, we will briefly go over the health hazards of lead & give you the ultimate answer of whether stainless steel contains this volatile metal. Let’s start with some quick health facts.
Lead – 100% Toxic
Lead is one of the most dangerous metals you can be exposed to. Along with other popular metals like mercury, no level of lead exposure is safe. In fact, lead acts as a poison to the human body & should be avoided at all costs.
What are the health effects of lead exposure exactly? Let’s take a look:
- Lead damages the brain, so your nervous system begins to deteriorate.
- Lead slows down development, so speech & physical growth are impaired.
- Lead can lead to cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure.
- Lead also causes reproductive problems, such as lower fertility.
- Lead can actually trigger headaches, stomach aches & muscle aches as well.
Lead can enter the body by taking in tainted drinking water, soil & old paint dust that may contain the toxic metal. Lead poisoning can begin with even the most minute amounts in your system. Starting at around 10 micrograms is when effects begin to show & that is an extremely small amount.
Is it in Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is the most used metal in the foodservice world, so we are exposed to it constantly. Does this mean we are being exposed to lead frequently? The short answer is no.
Stainless steel (Type 304 in particular) is primarily made up of 3 non-porous metals: iron, chromium & nickel. Other trace elements in the composition include manganese, carbon & silicon. These are all considered safe for human exposure.
There is no intentional amount of lead in stainless steel. Of course, this applies to the better-quality stainless steel & not the cheap variety.
On top of this, stainless steel does not contain harmful chemicals such as PFOA & PFAS (aka “forever chemicals”) & PTFE (aka Teflon) that can leach into food causing illness.
Let’s Talk About IMC’s Stainless Steel Products
With all the above said, IMC uses only Type 304 stainless steel made in the United States, so there are no shortcuts with quality. This means all IMC products are 100% safe for human use & do not contain any harmful coatings or metals.
The lack of lead along with the non-porous surface, superior corrosion resistance, ultimate strength/durability & ease of cleaning all combine to make stainless steel the safest metal in any foodservice environment.
In conclusion, IMC stands by our end results & does not cut corners when it comes to giving you a product that you can display & use safely in your lineup. For IMC’s full range of stainless steel products, click here.
