The use of metal containers for food preservation also dates back to ancient times. While they are often airtight and block light and air, most metals are prone to corrosion due to their reactions with elements in the surrounding environment. Corrosion can occur when metals interact with substances like moisture, oxygen, acids, or other corrosive agents. Since honey contains sugars, water, acids, and minerals, storing honey in such metal can cause it to react and combine with some of these elements, resulting in contamination and potential health risks. Consumers may distinctly notice this interaction through the unpleasant metallic taste in honey stored in such containers. For example, iron can combine with honey’s sugars, while zinc reacts with the honey’s acids to produce toxic substances.
Tests were conducted on honey preserved in iron or zinc containers, revealing that the honey contained 19.79% of these metals, while the typical percentage in natural honey is only 0.16%.
As for stainless steel 316, it contains 18% chromium and 10% nickel. It is an improved version of 304 stainless steel, with the addition of 2-3% molybdenum. This addition enhances its corrosion resistance, particularly against chlorides and acidic environments. Stainless steel 316 is often used in more aggressive food processing environments, such as those involving saltwater, acidic sauces, or high-temperature usage. SS316 primarily consists of 60-70% iron (Fe) and also contains small amounts of other elements, such as manganese, silicon, carbon, nitrogen, and traces of other metals like copper or tungsten.
While a passive oxide layer is present on the surface of SS316 due to the presence of chromium, providing some protection against corrosion and largely preventing interactions between the metal and honey, the reaction is still slow but not entirely prevented. Therefore, it is not recommended to store honey in small containers made of this material for extended periods of time
We observed an unpleasant metallic taste in honey after storing it for a relatively short period in a small 1 kg container made of SS316.