Safety guide
Is supermarket CO2 food-grade?
The gas you carbonate drinks with should be food-grade and certified. Here is what that means, why it matters, and how to be sure your cylinder is safe to drink from.
What food-grade certified CO2 means
Carbon dioxide comes in different grades for different jobs. Industrial CO2 is used for welding, fire suppression and other tasks where nobody is going to drink it. Food-grade CO2 is purified and tested to a standard that makes it safe to add to food and drink, and certified means a supplier can show the gas was filled to that standard. When you carbonate water at home, this is the only grade you want in the cylinder.
Most reputable supermarket exchange cylinders are filled with food-grade CO2, but it is always worth confirming. The label or the supplier should make the food-grade certification clear. If a source cannot tell you the grade, that is a reason to pause.
The risk of uncertified or adapter gas
The real risk is not the supermarket. It is the cheaper, unofficial routes some people try to save a few dollars. Refilling a drinks cylinder from an unlabelled industrial bottle, or using an adapter to fill from gas intended for paintball, airsoft or welding, can introduce contaminants and oils that are not meant for human consumption. The fitting may also be wrong, and an improperly filled or over-pressured cylinder is a safety hazard in your kitchen. Saving a little money is not worth not knowing what you are drinking.
How OH Bubbles fills your cylinder
We fill every cylinder with food-grade certified CO2, refilled locally in New Zealand. Each cylinder is a 450g fill, more than the 400g to 425g industry norm, so you get more sparkling water from gas you can trust. It fits SodaStream classic screw-in machines, Aarke, Philips, Breville and any standard 60L screw-in cylinder.
- Food-grade certified gas, every cylinder.
- Refilled locally in New Zealand.
- 450g fill, above the industry norm.
- Delivered to your door, with empties returned free in the same box.
The simple takeaway
Food-grade certified CO2 is the standard to look for, and most supermarket cylinders meet it, but uncertified and adapter-filled gas does not. When you order with us you skip the guesswork entirely. Order a gas refill, or see how the options compare in our guide to refilling a CO2 cylinder in NZ.
Common questions
Is supermarket CO2 safe to drink?+
Most reputable supermarket exchange cylinders use food-grade CO2, which is safe. Always confirm the gas is food-grade certified, and avoid uncertified or adapter-filled gas from non-food sources.
What is the difference between food-grade and industrial CO2?+
Food-grade CO2 is purified and tested to a standard that makes it safe for food and drink. Industrial CO2 is intended for tasks like welding or fire suppression and can contain contaminants not meant for consumption.
Why not use an adapter to fill from a cheaper gas source?+
Adapter or airsoft and paintball gas is not food-grade and can introduce contaminants and oils. The fitting may be wrong and an improperly filled cylinder is a safety hazard. Use food-grade certified gas only.
Is OH Bubbles CO2 food-grade?+
Yes. Every cylinder is filled with food-grade certified CO2, refilled locally in New Zealand, to a generous 450g fill.