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Galvanized materials and wedding reception safety

I am planning a Wedding Reception for my best friend's daughter who has requested I use a Spring Garden theme. Is it safe to use galvanized containers such as tubs to hold iced drinks? or even better, a large tub to use with lemon water with ladle. Flower arrangements will be in assorted galvanized watering cans. I've planned to use all kinds of galvanized metal containers to hold bread rolls, etc. with a cloth square between the actual container and the bread.

Robbie Cordell
homeowner - Americus, GA USA
July 7, 2009

Hi, Robbie. Galvanized steel is not a hazardous material, it's just not a food-safe one. Galvanized roofs have long been used to collect rainwater for drinking in outlaying areas; galvanized feeding troughs and watering troughs are widely used for livestock.

The only inappropriate use you have mentioned would be to directly hold lemon water for drinking. For that you would need a glass or stainless steel bowl. The need for cloth squares for bread is based mostly on aesthetics and people's possible aversion to eating bread directly touching an old metal container.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
July 8, 2009