1535
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2026
1535 points (100.0% liked)
Technology
86827 readers
3537 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related news or articles.
- Be excellent to each other!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
- Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.
Approved Bots
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
It can be, but is a hassle. There are food safe filaments, there are filaments that "should be" safe, like unmodified PETG, but the issue is to make all parts that are in contact with the filament food safe; extruder gears, Bowden tubes and other guides, hot ends, etc...
I imagine that it would be a hassle for parts suppliers to certify the bajillion variations of these parts as food safe.
The filaments themselves may be food safe but that doesn't matter. The resulting object is not food safe not because of the material but because of the manufacturing process. Printing layer by layer leaves miniscule voids and holes in-between layers where bacteria can thrive and which are impossible to clean.
Your print is safe to eat out of the first time, but is never food safe again as it can never be cleaned from bacteria in all the thin holes.
That "should be" is a risk...
I (probably but very likely) have enough micro plastics in my body. Don't need to supply it with a nuclear blast of it.
Rather buy a close enough replacement from a reputable brand or buy a better kettle for the next time (sadly).
The microplastic is the least important point when it comes to food safe products. Sure microplastic is bad, and we have no real idea about the long term effects, but there are there are things that already have effects on your health in the short term:
A lot of different plastic types release actual toxins over time, especially when exposed to high heat, since that destroys the molecular bonds. Having food or water touch these toxins is a great way to absord them into your body.
Apart from that most 3D printed materials have micro ridges and air pockets that are the perfect place for bacteria to grow. That's probably the worst thing to have in your kitchen.