Food grade vs medical grade stainless steel: Can 304 and 316L really come into direct contact with food/human body?

What are the characteristics of medical grade stainless steel?
High corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, smooth surface of medical grade stainless steel, not easy to breed bacteria, high surface hardness, not easy to scratch,Suitable for processing

Composition Stability: Corrosion Resistance + Low Migration Risk

Material	Key Components (%)	Characteristic Analysis
304	18-20% Chromium (Cr), 8-10.5% Nickel (Ni)	Chromium forms a passive film (Cr₂O₃) to resist oxidation and corrosion. Nickel improves toughness, acid-base resistance, and prevents the easy migration of harmful elements.
316L	16-18% Chromium (Cr), 10-14% Nickel (Ni), 2-3% Molybdenum (Mo)	Molybdenum further enhances corrosion resistance (especially against chloride ion corrosion). With a lower carbon content (≤0.03%), it avoids the precipitation of chromium carbides during welding, thus preventing intergranular corrosion.

 

What are the applications of medical grade stainless steel?
Medical grade stainless steel is widely used in fields such as medical equipment, instruments, surgical instruments, surgical equipment, orthopedic equipment, dental equipment, etc. For example, surgical forceps, scissors, dilators, metal foreign object detectors, etc.

 

What issues should be noted when choosing medical grade stainless steel?
When choosing medical grade stainless steel, it is necessary to consider specific usage conditions and select suitable grades and materials. At the same time, it is necessary to check the proof documents and test reports of the product to ensure that the materials comply with relevant standards and regulations.

 

Can 304 and 316L stainless steel really come into direct contact with food or the human body?
Purchase products with food grade/medical grade certification through legitimate channels, avoid contact with strong corrosive media, and use them with peace of mind.