Food grade stainless steel 304 vs 316: Which one is safer?

Food grade stainless steel 304 and 316 are both types of stainless steel commonly used in food contact materials. They both perform well in safety, but 316 stainless steel may be safer in some aspects.

Let's take a look at the basic characteristics of these two stainless steels.

304 stainless steel:

304 stainless steel is a general-purpose stainless steel with good corrosion resistance and processing performance. It is widely used in food, medical, construction and other fields. Its main components are iron, chromium and nickel, with a chromium content of at least 18% and a nickel content of at least 8%. This combination allows 304 stainless steel to maintain good stability in most environments.

316 stainless steel:

316 stainless steel adds molybdenum to 304, which further improves its corrosion resistance. Especially in terms of resistance to chloride corrosion, 316 stainless steel performs better than 304. Therefore, it is more suitable for use in marine environments, chemical industries and other fields.

In terms of food safety, both 304 and 316 stainless steel meet relevant standards and can be safely used in food contact materials. However, in certain specific cases, 316 stainless steel may be safer. For example, in foods containing high concentrations of chloride (such as brine, soy sauce, etc.), 316 stainless steel has stronger corrosion resistance, can effectively prevent the precipitation of harmful substances, and ensure food safety.

In addition, although 304 and 316 stainless steel are not much different in safety, the price of 316 stainless steel is higher than 304 in terms of cost. This is mainly because the manufacturing process of 316 stainless steel is more complicated and the raw material cost is higher. Therefore, when choosing food contact materials, cost and safety should be balanced according to actual needs.

What are the material requirements for food-grade stainless steel pipes?

Stainless steel pipes can be divided into seamless stainless steel pipes and welded stainless steel pipes according to the production process. The material requirements of food-grade stainless steel pipes are strict to ensure that they will not contaminate food during food processing and transportation, and meet hygiene and safety standards.

The material requirements for food-grade stainless steel pipes include selecting suitable stainless steel materials (304 and 316 stainless steel), ensuring surface finish, corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance, and meeting relevant hygiene standards.

In general, food-grade stainless steel 304 and 316 are both excellent in terms of safety, but 316 may be safer in certain circumstances. When choosing food contact materials, the appropriate type of stainless steel should be selected according to actual needs and uses. At the same time, to ensure food safety, food contact materials should be inspected and maintained regularly to promptly detect and deal with potential safety hazards.

In daily life, many food containers, tableware, etc. that we come into contact with may use food-grade stainless steel. Therefore, it is of great significance for us to understand the characteristics of different types of stainless steel and their differences in safety. Through the introduction of this article, I hope to provide you with a certain reference basis when choosing food contact materials.

Read more: Stainless Steel ERW vs Seamless Pipe or Stainless steel pipe implementation standards