Aluminum in food processing equipment

[Nick1911]

I know that aluminum in the brain has been linked to Alzheimers disease.  That said, is aluminum allowed in applications where the metal will come in direct contact with foods?

One of the devices Im building will have heated (liquid) coffee moving around in it.  My concern is if un-treated 6061 and 7075 aluminum will leach off in this hot, acidic environment and be present in the end product.

My thought is to use stainless steel, but its not as cheap and (I understand) its harder to machine as it tends to be gummy.

Thoughts?

[mfree]

Soda comes in aluminum cans. Soda's pretty darned acidic... I'd be seeing what they use to treat their cans with.

[Nick1911]

To my knowledge, aluminum cans use some kind of internal coating or liner to protect the drink from the aluminum.  Or, as wikipedia implies, to protect the aluminum from the drink!

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum_can

...some people believe that aluminum leaching into the fluid contained inside can be dangerous to the drinker's health. The exact role (if any) of aluminum in Alzheimer's disease is still being researched and debated . Aluminum cans contain an internal coating to protect the aluminum from the contents. If the internal coating fails, the contents will create a hole and the can will leak in a matter of days.

So, the acid will eat the aluminum? 

[charby]

my pressure canner is made from aluminum, now only if could remember where I put it.

-C

[Car Knocker]

A lot of the equipment in restaurant kitchens and bakeries that come in contact with food is aluminum, such as mixing bowls and beaters, pots, fry pans, baking pans.  My 6-quart Kitchen-Aid mixer came with an aluminum flat beater and dough hook.

[Typhoon]

Anodized aluminum seems to be OK.  A durable finish, but still with the excellent conductive nature of aluminum.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-anodized-aluminum.htm

[Brad Johnson]

The link between aluminum and Alzheimer's is, at best, questionable.  Here's a pretty good summary...

http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Pollution/Alumin-Alzheimer.htm

Brad

[K Frame]

There's one problem with the aluminum in the brain deal.

There's still NO evidence that aluminum causes Alzheimer's. Most neuroscientists believe that it does not.

There's also no indication of whether the aluminium is simply a byproduct of the disease, or whether it's simply present in some people.

[Antibubba]

That amazing substance that prevents aluminum from leaching?  Aluminum Oxide.

Upon exposure with air, the surface "rusts", preventing further corrosion.