Mar

30

Innobaby Din Din Smart Stainless Steel Bus Platter

Filed Under Food Safety, product finds | Comments Off

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    I stumbled on this today and wanted to share because I think it’s cute and functional and a nice alternative to hunks of plastic.  Innobaby is a company founded by two mothers that have developed some cool gear for babies and toddlers including silicone baby bottles, BPA/PVC Free food storage, organic crib sheet toppers, stroller seat toppers and food storage.  Browsing their site I found their adorable food tray called Din Din Smart Bus Platter.

    It’s divided into sections like a cafeteria food tray but its shaped like a cute little bus.  It’s made entirely out of food grade stainless steel so serving hot foods on it will not result in leaching worries.   The little compartments make learning to self feed a little easier so that food isn’t sliding around or off the plate.  It’s also dishwasher safe and probably pretty darn durable.  I thought this was a great meal time solution for both the non-toxic worry and the “make mealtime more fun” tactic.  What kid wouldn’t like sampling veggies from the little compartments? (Probably my kid, but I’ll try anything)

    Get It: You can pick up this cute food tray on their website Innobaby.com!

    Mar

    29

    2010 Infant Formula Cheat Sheet

    Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Food Safety, Product Safety | 9 Comments

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      This one was really hard to write.   It was a bit of phone calling, a lot of digging and a lot of reading. I had no real intention of doing a baby formula cheat sheet but Healthy Child Healthy World asked me to help out and then I became so engrossed in it that I compiled all this information.  So I’m going to share it with you. I want to preface this by saying I am a big supporter of breastfeeding.  I breastfed both my children, but I know people use or supplement with formula… that’s just the way it is and I do not judge anyone for the choices they make.  Now let’s brush up on what I was looking for:

      BPA in Packaging:  Back when I began this site, there was BPA in practically everything and before any real big buzz started.  My first phone calls to Enfamil in November of 2007 went something along the lines of “There is BPA in the can lining and its approved by the FDA so don’t worry your pretty little head over it.” As time went on an the news and research piled up, companies started to investigate BPA free packaging to cover their butts.  I’m happy to report that the majority of powdered baby formula is now packaged in BPA Free packaging.

      DHA/ARA: The majority of formula on the market, including organic, contains added DHA and ARA for brain and eye development.  Most of the formula companies use a DHA product from a company called Martek BioScience (life DHA – you can see the logo on most formula labels).  The controversy, if you can call it that, is that the method of extraction uses hexane, acid and bleach to extract the oils.  All the companies I spoke to that use life DHA told me that it’s the “only FDA approved method of DHA extraction” and that there are no detectable levels of hexane in the formula.  Only one company that we found uses an alternative method of DHA extraction, and that’s Nature’s One.  Their DHA and  ARA are derived from egg phospholipids using a water process. (Please not that Nature’s One does not put DHA/ARA supplements in their formulas.  It comes as a separate powder parents may add themselves) Nature’s One says this method is also FDA approved.

      Added Carbohydrate: I didn’t get into specifics of every brand but when I learned that Similac Organic uses Organic Sugar Cane (sucrose) as opposed to Organic Lactose, I wanted to check and see what other brands used. In Europe they instituted a ban on sucrose in infant formula due to its link to childhood obesity (except for babies with allergies). The European Union adopted the new rules based on the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Food, which found that sucrose provided no real nutritional benefits, and could bring about a fatal metabolic disorder, and contribute to overfeeding. The FDA does not  regulate what sugars can be used (or how much per serving), as long as they are safe. I’m not saying Similac Organic is a bad choice, but if you are concerned about the use of sucrose I looked into what other brands used for easy comparison.  Every other brand I looked into uses Organic Lactose or Lactose. You will have to consult with your pediatrician on this one.

      Fluoride: Whether you are pro-or anti- fluoride, there are some who may not know that it is present in infant formula.  So now there is fluoride in your water, in your infant formula and you’ve possibly got the kid on fluoride drops and you’re kid could be at risk of fluorosis? The Journal of American Dental Association recommends breastmilk of course, but for those using formula, they recommend using ready-made (we disagree due to the BPA content of some of the packaging). Their secondary recommendation for powdered formula is to use fluoride free or low fluoride water (purified, demineralized, deionized or distilled, as well as reverse-osmosis filtered water). The JADA published some test results last October of fluoride levels in popular infant formulas.  I picked out the numbers for you so you may cross reference on our spreadsheet yourself.  But you can download the report here as well to see the full report: Assessing a Potential Risk Factor for Enamel Fluorosis: A Preliminary Evaluation of Fluoride Content in Infant Formulas (PDF).  Optimal fluoride level in drinking water is 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million. (I should mention that I learned a lot about fluoride and about the JADA report from SAFBaby.com.  They have a great deal of thoughtful and thorough information so please check them out.)

      Perchlorate: Also known as rocket fuel. Stories broke on the news last April that trace amounts of rocket fuel was detected in infant formulas. The CDC tested formula for perchlorate because of concerns that it can damage thyroid function. The did 3 tests on a sampling of baby formula brands including Enfamil, Similac,  Publix and Kroger brands. To sum it up, formulas with lactose tested highest (Similac topping the results with the highest detected).  You can see the full range of results in the CDC’s document: CDC: Table of Perchlorate Levels in Powdered Infant Formula (PDF). Let it not be said that perchlorate is found in just about everything, including breastmilk.  So unfortunately there is no way to avoid it all together.  Natures One offers this information regarding perchlorate in their formula.

      Now that you know all this (aside from hating me for bringing it up) you can take a look at this information in our cheat sheet which makes this all more at-a-glance. Healthy Child Healthy World will be publishing some pocket shoppers guides too which I’ll link up when they are ready to go.

      DOWNLOAD IT! (PDF) (Last updated: April 3, 2010)

      Quick SafeMama™ Formula Feeding Recommendations

      • Choose Powdered over liquid (BPA in can lining)
      • Choose organic formulas over non-organic (pesticides and hormones in cow’s milk)
      • Use spring/distilled or filtered water for preparing formula
      • Choose glass, silicone, BPA-Free bottles
      • Do not microwave water or formula in plastic (It’s not recommended to microwave formula at all – heating water in glass is ok)
      • Wash plastic bottles with mild detergent by hand to prevent leaching over time, replace when they become worn

      *Disclaimer: I feel I should remind you that it’s important to discuss this information and any dietary changes you plan to make with your Pediatrician before doing so.  We always recommend breastfeeding when and if possible for the first 12 months.Additionally, if you have any concerns or questions about any of the formula we mention, feel free to call the company and ask them.  They were all relatively helpful.

      Mar

      26

      Eco-Friendly Eco-Kids Art Supplies

      Filed Under Eco-Mama, Product Reviews | 3 Comments

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        We did a round up of eco-friendly play dough a while back, which was great fun.  But we never really touched on other art supplies that are lurking in our cabinets.  I’ll admit I have my fair share of the good old traditional stuff like Crayola crayons, and markers.  But when it comes to paint I was a little more leery of what was in them and whether rinsing that stuff down the sink was bad for the environment.

        The Glass Baby Bottle is a great little online shop that caters to those of us seeking a less toxic life for our babies and kids. They carry a wide range of products: Organic clothing, mattresses, bibs, bamboo bath towels, art supplies and yes – glass baby bottles. They asked us to review their new stock of Eco-Kids USA art supplies.  I was excited to do so!  For review they sent us a set of the Eco-Kids USA Finger paint Tube and a set of the Eco-Pencils.

        The paints are made with with natural ingredients like plant, fruit and vegetable extracts from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomato.  All the colors come in a power form so you can control how intense the color is.  You can do something simple like water color or change the paint/water ratio and use a thicker paint.  We experimented with a few variations and the colors all look pretty fabulous.  They dry lighter in color but the fun part is doing the actual painting (if you ask me).

        The Eco-Kids Colored Pencils come in a variety of pretty colors and are made with recycled newspaper along with wax and natural mineral dyes.  Two pencils are “rainbow” too so they are fun to experiment with. My son is really into learning to write and these have been a fun way to encourage that skill.  The Eco-Kids art supplies would make great Easter gifts for he kiddies.  Speaking of Easter…

        Eco-Kids has a great eco-friendly Easter Egg Coloring Kit!  Finally! A kit for the rest of us who don’t feel like making our own.  The kit comes with 5 colors made from purple sweet potato, paprika, beta carotene, red cabbage and blueberries. There is enough dye to color your eggs (twice if need be!) and the kit comes with 2 soy crayons for decorating.  So great! I’d love to say that I spent time steeping vegetables and straining juices to make my own safe egg coloring but I just haven’t done it. With a 4 year old, a baby and work, I can barely get dinner ready.  I’ve been waiting for a safe kit to come on the market and my prayers have been answered!

        Get Them: Get these and other great Eco-Kids products from our friends at The Glass Baby Bottle for toxin free essentials for baby and kids.  the Glass Baby Bottle is run by a Mom & Dad who want to provide non-toxic shopping for the rest of us.  I’m happy to support (literally) Mom & Pop shops!

        Bonus! Shop The Glass Baby Bottle and get 10% off your order with coupon code “SM10“!

        Mar

        22

        SafeMama Baby Pool Cheat Sheet

        Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, PVC Free | 10 Comments

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          Last year we had gotten the question about baby and wading pools for small kids.  What better way to spend a summer afternoon than sitting in your backyard with some friends and letting the kids splash around?  It’s a nice cheap afternoon.  The kids are having fun, you’re working on your tan (in moderation of course), and you’re able to have a somewhat peaceful conversation with other adults.  One of my friends has what we refer to as “block party,” during the summer.  She puts every outdoor toy in her driveway, along with her pool and we all just hang out under umbrellas while the kids have fun.   The only drawback is, her pool is vinyl, which makes me a little paranoid sometimes.   I tend to be phobic of chemicals, so this year, I was determined to search for better alternatives.  I wasn’t going to stop until I found a suitable alternative.  And thankfully, I came up with a few ideas.

          PVC Free Baby Pools

          EverEarth Inflatable Pool: Looks like a regular blow up pool but it’s made of TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) which according to EverEarth is biodegradable and phthalate free.  They also have a full line of pool toys, inflatables, swimmies, and rafts. Woo!  Check out their website for the selection.  I don’t think these are available just yet but as soon as they are I’ll update and let you know where to find them.  I have to thank Inhabitots for the find – thanks!

          Molded Plastic Pools: This is your typical and least expensive option if you’re looking to go with something PVC and phthalate free.   You can typically find these anywhere, including grocery stores, toy stores and department stores like, Target and Wal Mart.   They range from $8 to $20 depending on the size.  They’re generally made of LDPE (low density polyethylene, which is #4 on the recycling scale).  Sometimes they have a recycling code on them, and sometimes they don’t.   But they are a good option if you’re looking for something inexpensive and fun.  The only drawback to these is that they tend to be a pain to empty, but that’s a pretty low con to deal with for the price.

          Sun Smarties Pop up Pool: Another great, but a little more expensive option is one that I found over at One Step Ahead, called the Sun Smarties Pop Up Pool.  I was really excited about this find, and went ahead and ordered one (I can’t give you any details on it yet, though, because it’s back-ordered until next month.  Thankfully it’s still late winter and not summer yet!).  This pool just seems like an all around great option. The great thing about this pool is that it pops up easily folds up so flat, that you can pack it with you if you’re going on vacation!  Neat.   It comes with a sun canopy that clips on easily, which is great because you can move it around as the day wears on to make sure that your child has all day sun shade (but remember to still put sunscreen on them.  You know how kids are, in out in out in out).   Because of its ease of use, you can also get use out if it in the winter by using it as a ball pit.   It also comes in three sizes, which is a nice plus.  The smallest model retails for about $40, but the biggest one is pretty pricey at $90.   The Sun Smarties pop up pool is made from puncture resistant polyester.   Once I get mine, I’ll add my two cents to the information.

          Statia Says (5/20/09): I received my pool and unfortunately, I’m going to have to remove the Sun Smarties Pop up Pool from our list.  Sadly, when I opened my pool, I noticed the plastic liner suspiciously looked like PVC (which is not mentioned in the product description).  However, One Step Ahead will not confirm what the liner is made of, so I’ll leave this information here in case One Step Ahead wants to clarify any information, or if any of you went ahead and ordered the pool.   I’m so disappointed, because this seemed like a great space saving option.

          Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sand and Wading Pool: This is a really cute, fun option for smaller toddlers.  The pool is somewhat small, so use would be limited, but if you really wanted to, you could fill both sides with water for more pool room.  Sometimes though, all kids need is just a little bit of water to have a lot of fun.  I also like that you can fold it up when it’s not in use and that there’s an umbrella to give the kids some shade on a hot day.  Little Tikes products are made of polypropylene (#5 plastic), which is recyclable in nearly all areas and Little Tikes products hold their value really well, so when you’re done with it, you could sell it to recoup your cost or donate it.

          Phthalate free vinyl pool Perhaps this isn’t the most eco-friendly option, but there are PVC pools that are phthalate free.   They’re made without using all of the phthalates to soften the pvc.  I’ve researched and found some options, particularly one company by the name of Intex, that makes them, but they seem to be hard to find.  Maybe as the demand becomes higher, they will be more readily available.   There is however, the issue of how it could be recycled, and if it could be recycled easily, given that most PVC is made with phthalates.  I haven’t done a ton of research on it yet, since summer is still around the corner.   But it’s on my list of things to look into.

          Little Tikes Wade Lagoon: This is beyond expensive as an option for something phthalate free, but it is phthalate free, nonetheless.   Little Tikes inflatables are all made of a mix of polyethylene and phthalate free PVC (as confirmed by a rep from little tikes).  All Little Tikes products are free of phthalates and BPA, so that’s comforting to know.  This product is built to last, which is one of the things I love about Little Tikes.  The inflatable products are expensive, but they definitely hold up to a beating (we have one of their bouncers, and a very active jumpy little boy, so I know how sturdy they are).   The good thing about this, is that you’d no doubt get quite a few years out of it, and it would probably last until your kids outgrew it and again, Little Tikes products hold their value, so you can sell it later on down the road and extend its life a little longer.

          Another option that isn’t technically a “wading pool” but could also be used as a pool, would be a stock tank.  I’ve seen these as options around the internet, and while they could get pricey, they are a little bigger than your typical plastic molded pool.  I actually researched this option, but we’re a little low on garage space, so I went with the foldable pool instead, to save space.  They’re extremely sturdy and are higher on the sides than an actual wading pool, which might be nice if you wanted to say, fill it up on a hot summer day and kick the kids out, while the mom’s enjoyed some nice cold beverages.   I’m just sayin’…

          Know a product you think belongs in this list? Let us know!

          Mar

          15

          SafeMama’s Safer Baby Skin Care Cheat Sheet

          Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Product Safety, Skin Care | 1 Comment

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            Welcome to the next generation of the Safer Baby Skin Care Cheat Sheet! As we’ve grown and learned, we have become more aware of other ingredients, aside from parabens and phthalates, we wish to avoid. We also realize that there are different trains of thought (how many chemicals you’ll tolerate) and budgets to consider so we decided to simplify this list and split it up. For more detailed information on why we avoid certain ingredients please check our glossary. Below is a listing of brands we recommend. (Last Updated January 31, 2012)

            Notice: Please do not redistribute this list anywhere without our prior written consent. If you would like to share this information with your readers, please use the handy little button we created for doing just that and link back here. I  spent time away from my kids, pouring over ingredients lists, digging in the Skin Deep Database and learning about chemicals and processes. Please help me make that worth my time and energy by not copy/pasting my work on other websites, communities, forums or blogs without permission. Thank you!

            Want to know about skin care & beauty products? Check out LovelyMama for product reviews and recommendations.  Us Mommies need safe skin care too!

            BEST CHOICES: SafeMama’s Top Picks

            The following brands are, according to the latest ingredient information, mostly chemical free (or as close to chemical free as possible). They also rate well in the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics database and are responsible companies. These are listed in alphabetical order for each rating group and not in a preferential manner. [Key: Brand Name, (Skin Deep rating range for baby items only, if available - Skin Deep ratings start at 0 being the best and goes up to 9 being the most hazardous)]

            BETTER CHOICES

            These are also really GREAT Choices: All baby care items are FREE of Parabens, Phthalates, PEG’s, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone, SLS and a bevy of other chemicals I won’t bother listing. Brands exhibit a very respectable ingredients list. (Note: In some brands cases they carry several products that are chemical free however have one or two items that were not.) I personally use many items from brands in this section.

            GOOD CHOICES

            Brands are Paraben, Phthalate, Propylene Glycol, PEG Free though had one or more products containing cocamidopropyl betaine, dimethicone, sodium benzoate, and/or phenoxyethanol. Some of these brands had traces of just one questionable ingredient and others had several, or contained more chemically processed ingredients than I was comfortable with. These are still far better choices than most mainstream baby products and would recommend them. You will need to investigate the products yourself and make a judgment call.

            Gluten Free Brands

            These brands are gluten free according to their informational materials, for those needing to avoid gluten in their skin care. (Not comprehensive)

            • 100% Pure Kids
            • California Baby
            • Earth Mama Angel Baby
            • Episencial
            • Nature’s Paradise Organics
            • TruKid Skin Care

            Basic Skin Care Tips:

            Read labels carefully. Beware of the basics -paraben, fragrance, PEG’s, and propylene glycol. Use our list as a guide.

            Shopping at a “natural” store doesn’t mean everything is paraben and phthalate free. Read labels, know how to decipher the ingredients by reading our glossary and don’t be fooled by the word “natural” or “organic” on the label. These words are not regulated the way food is… just because it says natural/organic doesn’t always mean it is.

            Be wary of the term “fragrance”. Synthetic fragrances are a phthalate culprit so if you can, try to use products with organic or natural essential oils only if you are unsure. Unscented products can also contain phthalates by using a fragrance masking agent.

            Use less products. This seems like a no-brainer but many people use way more than they need. Babies are born with the most perfect skin (usually) and it will never again be as perfect as it is when they’re babies.  Their skin is also sensitive and susceptible.  They don’t need to be slathered in lotions and powders. A little warm water and a washcloth is all they really need. When kids get older and grimier (like mine) a little soap and warm water does the trick and you can spot treat any dry skin problems or rashes.

            Make Your Own: Some Castille Soap and water goes a long way!

            Note: We support all the brands listed above regardless of what rating they have received.  We also realize everyone has their own standard of “greenness” and feel that there is a product to suit the needs of every child.  Experiment and mix and match until you find which brands work best for you, your family and your budget.  If there is a brand you think is missing from this list, please contact me and let me know and I would be happy to review it for inclusion.

            When my son was first born, I probably got sixty bottles of different types of Johnson’s Baby Wash. They had one for every day, one for calming, one for colds. It seemed like they had just about everything I needed. Not having any idea what a paraben or a phthalate was, it was my staple. Once I started doing research (you would think that I would have done this prior to having my baby, but then again, you wouldn’t think they would make a baby shampoo that was laden with chemicals. Fool me once…), I was horrified to learn that I was using something harmful on my son’s delicate skin. I stopped using it immediately and sought other alternatives. I will admit though, I became so used to the smell of the Johnson’s calming baby wash, that I kept a bottle, just for the tactile memory. Every now and then, I’ll give it a little sniff, and it transforms me back to those early days of his newborn baby head. Since then, I’ve done A LOT of research on baby shampoo, and have tried many brands. When my daughter was born, I even brought my own body wash to the hospital and refused to let them use what they had on hand (most likely Johnson’s). Between Kathy and I, I’m pretty confident that we’ve tried just about every brand that’s out there. We’ve pored over ingredients and compared lathering capabilities. And here’s what we’ve come up with.

            Mar

            14

            Sunday Morning DIY: Lavender & Sweet Orange Hand Soap

            Filed Under Green Mama, Safe Mama Tips | 7 Comments

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              My green friends will all nod in agreement that making your own home cleaning products is a cinch… it’s just a matter of having a few items on hand.  There are literally thousands of uses for the basics and it’s a worthy investment for those on any kind of a budget because a little will go a long way.  Instead of buying expensive hand soaps (that may or may not contain chemicals or contaminants) you can easily whip up your own.  Picture spending $6 on a hand soap at Whole Foods and then picture spending about that same amount of money on a few key ingredients that will keep your hand soap dispenser filled for months on end (instead of a few weeks).

              This morning I whipped up some Lavender and Sweet Orange hand soap in less than 30 seconds and here’s how to do it.   You will need liquid Castille Soap .  For this I used Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Pure-Castille Soap which you can buy at Target, Whole Foods, health stores, or online.  Target carries tiny 1 ounce bottles, or you can purchase the bigger bottles (I recommend getting the Unscented Castille Soap if you go that route).

              Essential Oil – You will also need Sweet Orange essential oil for this particular recipe but just about any essential oil will do, especially if you are using unscented castille soap…. just think of the possible scents you can concoct.  You can pick up essential oils at health food stores and online.  What’s great is a few drops go a long way so it lasts forever and has many many uses. Other oils I keep handy for DIY recipes include Clary Sage and Tea Tree (have antiseptic and antibacterial qualities), and Lavender.

              Water – distilled water seems to be best for this kind of thing but I just use filtered water because hello, I have 2 kids, I don’t have time to distill water, and I would rather not buy it and waste more packaging.  I’m just washing my hands not performing surgery.

              Foamer Pump – You can easily re-purpose foamer pumps from old hand soaps or you can buy them.  I haven’t had a foamer soap in my house in a long time (I said goodbye to dial ages ago) so I bought a 3 pack from Bubble & Bee last time I bought shower gel. You can also buy on Amazon.  I hate to buy extra plastic but these get used over and over and it eliminates the need to buy more stuff.  You can make any number of things to use in foamer pumps like body wash, shampoo, etc.

              Do It Yourself:

              • 6 ounces water
              • 1 Tsp – Tablespoon Lavender Castille Soap (you can adjust this amount to how much soapiness you prefer)
              • 8-10 drops of sweet orange essential oil
              • Shake gently, the end. (You’ll want to give the bottle a brief shake before each use to remix the oils evenly… nothing crazy just a one, two shake will do it)

              This is gentle on skin and smells really fresh.  I keep this near the sink in the kitchen… I like orange and citrus scents in the kitchen which is great for after handling fragrant food like garlic or onions.  It’s super gentle too which is key for those of us washing their hands all day long.  Between diaper changes, nose wiping and cooking I wash my hands 57 times a day. Hi sandpaper hands.

              This is just one of a zillion possible combination that can be achieved.  Earth friendly, bio-gradable, chemical free, gentle and safe for everyone. Happy Sunday everyone :)

              Mar

              12

              Fisher-Price and Mattel Settlement

              Filed Under Toy Safety | 3 Comments

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                My husband sent me an email the other day about a settlement regarding some Fisher-Price and Mattel toys that were recalled due to high lead content. A lot of these toys are smaller sets that are more for older kids, ones who should know better than to put them in their mouths. But because we realize that a lot of families have older kids and younger kids at the same time, you never want to find out that any of your toys had high contents (or any contents for that matter) of lead. There are also a few toys for babies and younger toddlers on this list as well. You can access the entire pdf copy of the list at the Mattel Settlement website. It gives you all of the instructions you need to take the proper action if any toys you have are on this list.

                Before all of this lead and BPA stuff became such a hot topic, I was such a HUGE fan of Fisher-Price toys. We had tons of the brightly colored plastic littering nearly every square inch of our family room and play room. But when they started to treat their customers as if we were naive and acting super secretive about the materials they used, I’ve stood my ground on not buying anything from Fisher-Price. I have to tell you, it’s been hard. Their products make up the majority of the conventional toy market and they’re so visually appealing to kids, just sitting there on the shelves. My mother has been the one to cave and buy some stuff for the kids, against my wishes, and my son LOVES Matchbox and Hot Wheels like every other 3 year old boy. They make their way into our home from relatives. But I have firmly stood my ground about giving them any of my hard earned money. And until they start treating their customers with respect and stop playing the innocent victim in regards to lead in their toys, I refuse to buy anything Fisher-Price for my kids.

                Mar

                9

                Batter Blaster Organic Pancake Batter: BPA in Packaging?

                Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Food Safety | 11 Comments

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                  My husband came home from a grocery shopping trip not long ago and he had a look of total excitement and triumph on his face.  “Look what I found!” he said as he handed me a whipped cream can looking item.  It was the new Batter Blaster that I keep hearing about. At first glance I thought “What a cool idea!” and truthfully, it is a pretty cool concept. Organic batter in a can? Yes please!  But of course, the SafeMama in me wasn’t totally convinced that the can that held this precious certified organic product was BPA free.  So I set out to find the answer.

                  I checked their website first and while their product information tells us the can is totally recyclable (although I’m told you have to check with your local recycling center to see whether you can actually recycle it on your area) but there was no mention of BPA.  This always is a red flag for me.  Typically, companies who offer organic food or safer products have a BPA free logo or address it in their FAQ’s because who wouldn’t want to leverage that angle? Its marketing…. if its BPA Free (by accident or otherwise) you want people to know.  Since it was missing from an easy access place like their company website I had a feeling I wasnt going to be pleasantly surprised.

                  However, I did speak to a company representative and my question “Does the can contain BPA?” was answered.  The answer? Yes, and No.

                  According to Batter Blaster, the cans they were using did contain BPA in the epoxy lining of the metal interior.  No surprise there. Of course they assured me it was within FDA regulation limits and was well below the allowable BPA content.  You know that isn’t good enough for SafeMama.  BPA Free or I don’t buy it.  BUT, Batter Blaster recently changed their cans to a BPA Free one.  So all the new Batter Blaster’s coming into stores are in the new BPA Free steel cans.  Hooray!  But hold on a minute…

                  My next question was “Ok so are there still cans in stores right now in the old BPA containing packaging?“  The answer that I concluded from our conversation was Yes.  Batter Blaster rolled out their new BPA Free packaging but they are still selling the older style cans (I can assume until they run out of it).  I asked how I would be able to tell the difference and Batter Blaster told me that the older cans look like the ones featured on their website (See the homepage).

                  • The old package/can  has a “lip” or a “rim” near the top (See inset).  The newer packaging does not and appears more streamlined.
                  • Batter Blaster told me that the cans only have a shelf life of a few months so anything marked with an expiration date of April 2010 or later would be in the new BPA Free  packaging.

                  So I pulled out the can my husband brought home and flipped it over.  April 2010.  But it was in an old style can with the rim she described.  So perhaps a better gauge will be the new style of packaging (which I cannot find a photo of but will post if I see one).

                  Right now the Batter Blasters in my local store all have the BPA style packaging so I can only assume that these have not been sold out enough to warrant ordering in the new packaged cans yet, despite the April 2010 expiration dates.  So I may wait a while before I purchase it again.

                  Update: Here is a photo of what the new BPA Free packaging looks like:

                  Thanks Schmedley for pointing me to it.

                  Mar

                  8

                  Found: Stainless Steel Popsicle Molds (Giveaway!)

                  Filed Under Food Safety, Giveaways Coupons, product finds | 231 Comments

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                    I know many of you are really itching for Spring and Summer to arrive despite the weather we’ve all been having. (Even in Florida its been in the 40′s – not ice pop weather!) I was going to hold off until a more appropriate time to post this but it’s just too good! A while ago I did a Summer Series on Safer Ice Pop Molds.  Despite finding  bevy of great options I had said my dream ice pop maker would be stainless steel yet I never found any.

                    Well thanks to a reader tip that dream is now a reality. The Tickle Trunk, where I discovered stainless steel ice cube trays, finally has stainless steel ice pop molds for sale for $35.00.  It’s a great design too.  The set comes with a stand and 6 round ice pop molds… so you can takeout one single ice pop and then refill as needed.  The lid or “base” of the ice pop where the stick goes through has a silicone ring to help keep the sticks in place nice and straight.

                    So there you go.. stainless steel, BPA, PVC and phthalate free ice pops! Woo!  Pick these up at The Tickle Trunk.

                    WIN IT!

                    The Tickle Trunk is giving away a stainless steel popsicle mold set to one lucky reader!

                    To Enter (Required):

                    Visit The Tickle Trunk and check out what they have.  Leave a comment here telling us what other product(s) they carry that would interest you the most.

                    For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

                    • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via RSS reader
                    • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
                    • Subscribe to MommyLikes.com via RSS reader
                    • Subscribe to MommyLikes.com via feedburner email
                    • Put a SafeMama.com Button on your blog or website
                    • Put a MommyLikes.com Button on your blog or website
                    • Blog about this giveaway and leave us the link
                    • Share this giveaway on Facebook
                    • Fan SafeMama on Facebook
                    • Fan Mommy Likes on Facebook
                    • Follow @safemama and @momlikes on Twitter
                    • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED DAILY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself) :  #WIN a Stainless Steel Popsicle Mold from @SafeMama! #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/ylnch6j

                    One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Giveaway open to US residents. Entries will be accepted until March 24, 2010 at midnight PST. Good Luck :D

                    Thank you to everyone who entered and tweeted and shared. And thank you to The Tickle Trunk for providing this great giveaway!

                    WINNER: Commenter #61 Single Mama By Choice

                    Mar

                    5

                    SafeMama Likes to Give you Stuff: Mommy Likes

                    Filed Under Website News | 1 Comment

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                      MommyLikes.com!I’ve been doing some overhauling and surveying and listening to SafeMama readers lately.  I also like doing reviews and giveaways of products that benefit our cause.  But sometimes it can get in the way of the real information of what SafeMama is all about.  So I went ahead and created a separate space to house reviews and giveaways for us!  Introducing MommyLikes.com.  Mommy Likes will be a space for eco-friendly (and safe) giveaways which we can expand to other areas of products – without cluttering up SafeMama with reviews an contests.  I will still do reviews and giveaways here too, but only when the product really benefits our mission and our readers (cool stuff  and relevant stuff).  Mommy Likes is a place for you to hear about new products and try to win them!  There is no limit on how many giveaways you can enter or win so go on and enjoy it!

                      Right now we have a great  giveaway from MamaBears.com – You can win a silicone Kind Sign for your baby carrier or stroller!  We also have a Boon Squirt giveaway going on and I will be posting a great Episencial Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath giveaway from SproutBaby.com this afternoon.

                      So please subscribe to Mommy Likes, Follow Mommy Likes on Twitter or grab our button… visit often for lots of great giveaways coming soon!

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