Plenty of people use chore/copper mesh ribbon in the gvg here. It seems to be safe.

I'm just trying to avoid oxidizing the metal with too much heat before use & get the taste off.

It doesn't normally havr the copper taste when i use it, but i'm sure i've been oxidizing it.

I have only hit the gvg with un-oxidized chore without any heat so far & it tastes slightly metallic.

Those links do look a bit troubling though. It's become hard to find a good medium to stick in the pipe that catches the liquid dmt & won't catch fire, but will heat evenly.