'As a handle or utensil any wood is perfectly safe . What you shouldnt use it for is as a cooking utensil as extreme heat has an adverse affect on the wood . Its all down to expansion and contraction with regards to the possibility of germs getting into any tiny cracks when hot and as it cools the germs are' trapped' . Dont no why teak is any different from any other wooden utensil '. Personally i think its all bulls@@t . Good hygiene should erradicate any risk regardless of the timber used . Just my 2pennithworth