Euro Inox has produced an interesting new document "Stainless Steel - When Health Comes First". This specifically looks at stainless steel and health & safety in its different roles. 

Areas covered include:

• the suitability of specification and surface finish
• pharmaceutical manufacture
• food contact
• skin contact
• contact with drinking water
• medical implants
• applications of stainless steel with relationship to human health
• hygiene characteristics of the surface of stainless steel - cleaning and disinfection

It also explains how the alloying elements e.g. nickel and chromium are safely bound up in the stainless steel. Stainless steels have a self repairing passive layer that forms a barrier between the bulk steel and its environment.

If you would like to read more click here to see the full document on the Euro Inox website.