Aluminium shavings dangerous ?

[patbateman]

Hi, I just made first time my own sausages using the Cabelas Grinder. After finishing the work, when I washed the grinder, I noted that some metal within the grinder seems to be gone. Would it still be safe to eat the sausages ? Any thoughts ?

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• patbateman
• Sep 17, 2017

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• patbateman
• Sep 17, 2017

 

[daveomak]

I would pitch the sausage and return the grinder...  

On a side note, you should apply some food grade grease to parts that touch....  like the shaft on the end of the auger, and where the cutter contacts the grinding plate...  and on the other end of the auger where it contacts the motor....     and where ever else you can find...

I use....   also on my stuffer and meat slicer...

....click on pic to enlarge.....

Food Grade Grease.jpg

• daveomak
• Sep 19, 2017

 

[pops6927]

I use a food safe spray to lubricate my equipment parts, from Butcher-Packer:

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• pops6927
• Sep 19, 2017

One can lasts me a year or more, well worth the minor expense.

 

[airmec]

Aluminum can cause health issues but for most it takes quite a bit of exposure that being said the new grinders are from China and I'm sure only new metal with no contaminates was used (wink,wink).. My only question would be why there was any wear since the parts are all clearance fit was everything snugged up on the auger head and did your die fit properly only contact areas should be the thrust area at the rear of the auger and the steel pin that goes through the die. If your plastic thrust washer was installed and the die protruded slightly from the face of the auger head so that when the ring is tightened there is no movement then everything should do it's job and not contact each other. The use of either a food safe spray or grease is a must. You might have only nicked the parts as you put them together or took them apart if the areas are only in the one spot it is hard to see in the photo

 

[indaswamp]

I would pitch the sausage and return the grinder...

On a side note, you should apply some food grade grease to parts that touch.... like the shaft on the end of the auger, and where the cutter contacts the grinding plate... and on the other end of the auger where it contacts the motor.... and where ever else you can find...

I use.... also on my stuffer and meat slicer...

....click on pic to enlarge.....

Food Grade Grease.jpg

• daveomak
• Sep 19, 2017

Ditto. I would buy a grinder with a Stainless steel housing and auger instead of aluminum. It's the same price, or a little bit more money, but for durability it's worth it.

 

[indaswamp]

Might of had bone chips in the meat and the bone fragments chipped the aluminum while the grinder was running. Bone chip could have got caught between the auger and the housing. Or, if you were grinding waterfowl, a stainless steel pellet might have caused the issue.