What is 304 [18/8] food grade stainless steel?

304 or [18/8] is a grading of stainless steel and is used for many applications because of it's high corrosion resistance and strength but what exactly makes 304 food grade stainless steel so good? 

1. It's suitability for food processing. 

The steel must go through a process call electropolishing to meet strict sanitation standards. This process smoothes the steel removing even microscopic blemishes on the surface to ensure the material can't harbour any bacterial growth. 

2. It's durable

The 304 grading of the steel ensures that the steel is contains at least 8% nickle which gives the material it's strength and 18% chromium which gives the material it's corrosion resistance 

3. It provides a pure taste 

This type of steel with never interact with the contents meaning that you'll never experience that "metallic" taste which is one of the reasons why it's the most commonly used metal in food preparation. 

4. It's safe 

This is the most important to us, 304 food grade stainless steel has been thoroughly tested and certified to contain no harmful toxins or heavy metals such as lead. 

5. It's recyclable

304 food grade stainless steel can be easily recycled at any scrap metal or waste disposal facility and turned into a variety of products. 

6. It's a good thermal conductor 

304 food grade stainless steel has very good thermal conductivity which is a fancy way of saying it can transfer temperature really well. This is why it's commonly used for pots and pans. You may be thinking why it's a good thing for a water bottle? Well, it's important in our vacuum insulation which you can read more about HERE.  

Does Cheeki use food grade stainless steel?

YES! All Cheeki bottles use 304 [18/8] food grade stainless steel making them superior quality to others.

What should I avoid when buying a reusable bottle?

Aluminium Bottles

Aluminium bottles are lined with either plastic or ceramic material, making it a high risk for BPA to leak into your bottle. It is recommended that only water is kept in aluminium bottles as acidic liquids such as juice and soft drink will disintegrate the lining and make the aluminium more bioavailable.  

Plastic Bottles

Besides the significant impact plastic water bottles have on our environment, the material used for plastic bottles is known for its potential BPA exposure (read more about BPA here). Research suggest BPA has a strong link to a number of different diseases and cancers.