I am a traveler. There was a time when no self-respecting backpacker would be caught without a Nalgene bottle dangling from a carabiner on the side of his or her pack.
If you were REALLY hip, you used the same Nalgene bottle ALL THE TIME and personalized it with stickers that referenced obscure places, bands, or eco-clubs.
When the news about the possibly harmful side effects of BPA in plastic food containers came out, I didn't want to take any risks with my health, so I tossed all of my BPA plastics, including offending sippy cups, baby bottles, and my beloved sports bottles.
I was so excited to learn that Nalgene has a line of BPA-free bottles! I am proud to say that we have a set for the whole family!
Nalgene bottles are made in the USA, are indestructible, and are taste & odor free, so you can enjoy your drinks without that yucky tainted plastic smell.
The BPA-free bottles include:
The 32-oz "everyday" bottle, that my husband drinks coffee out of (kind of weird, I know...).
The Everyday retails for $11.50.
The OTG has a handy flip-top lid and holds 24 ounces of BPA-free hydration! The Nalgene OTG retails for $11.99.
My FAVORITE new BPA-free offering from Nalgene are these adorable Grip-N-Gulp bottles! It is the convenience and spill-proof qualities of a sippy cup, but the Grip-N-Gulp looks a lot more "grown up" than a standard sippy.
Both of my boys love using the Grip-N-Gulp. When we first got it, I removed the valve because it was almost too difficult to drink through. Even without the valve, there is very little leakage. At $9.25, I think the Grip-N-Gulp is a great value for a BPA-free kid's cup!
The first day I took the Grip-n-Gulp out on the town with us to run some errands, I left it in on the counter of the grocery store while I was checking out!
Luckily a friend of mine had seen me in the grocery store and realized what had happened when they saw my abandoned bottle. I was glad to be reunited with our Grip-N-Gulp! I was so afraid my son would be devastated if it was lost!
Nalgene is giving away a set of all 3 BPA-Free bottles mentioned in this post (ARV 32.75)!
To enter, tell me another product you would like to have from Nalgene!
For a second entry, leave another comment telling me how you would use your 3 BPA-Free Nalgene bottles.
One winner will be chosen at random.
This giveaway will close on November 1, 12 midnight CST!
*Giveaway closed! Congrats to Olga!*
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Nalgene Goes BPA-Free!
Monday, June 30, 2008
CamelBak delivers BPA-Free Hydration
If you are like me, you engaged in a major "drinking vessel" clean-out when the news broke about harmful BPA in plastics. I tossed out sippy cups, baby bottles, and my beloved sports bottle.
I was more than thrilled when I heard about the new BPA-Free CamelBak Better Bottle. This is the first ever CLEAR reusable water bottle that is BPA-Free.
It is stylish, safe, leak-proof, and fun to use! The very first morning I started using my BPA-Free CamelBak Better Bottle, my preschooler asked for a drink on the way to school. In about ten minutes he had consumed almost 16 ounces of water (which is A LOT for a 3-year-old). Finally he grunted, "muh tummy hurts!", but that was easily remedied by a visit to the bathroom.
After that incident, my child learned a little more temperance. But still, this neat little "flip, bite, and sip" valve is fun to drink out of, and it really is completely leak-proof (even when the straw is in the "up" position).
I also love that the BPA-Free CamelBak Better Bottle is dish washer safe and does not give the water a "plastic taste". It really is a Better Bottle! We love ours!
I have one to share with you!
CamelBak is allowing me to giveaway a CamelBak Better Bottle just like mine!
To enter, just look here and comment on this post telling me one other color of the Better Bottle you like.
If you would like to order a BPA free CamelBak Bottle from Lets Go Green!, use the coupon code "FRIEND" to receive 25% off your order! Wow!
This giveaway will close on July 6 at 9pm CST.
One winner will be chosen via random integer generator and will have 48 hours to claim his or her prize once notified.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Adiri Natural Nurser
My baby is VERY happy, because today we started using Adiri Natural Nurser Baby Bottles. We still nurse, but increasingly there have been times that we need to be apart for short periods, including when I am at work part-time. When I am away from him, I don't want him to be entirely dependent on my return to give him nourishment. I snack between meals a lot myself!
What is good about Adiri?
- 100% polycarbonate-free and BPA-free
- beautiful design
- easy to fill and prepare for use
- includes cover to protect nipple from dirt and germs
- dishwasher safe
- Adiri bottles are shaped like a mother's breast!
I have often wondered why baby bottles to not resemble an actual breast in any way. Do a lot of people have 2-inch long nipples shaped like pencils? (that was a rhetorical question; no show of hands, please). An Adiri bottle would make the transitions between breast and bottle feeding seamless and interchangeable. It's revolutionary.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
BPA in Canned Foods
I am not really a "doomsday" or "conspiracy" kind of thinker, but I have wondered for a long time if there might be a connection between eating canned foods and cancer. Canned food was first massed produced in the US in 1812. In those days cans were made from wrought iron. Canned food became more popular after World War I, when companies who has produced tin cans of food for the army began to market to civilian consumers.
Today cans are made from tin-coated steel. Apparently, the inside of the can is often coated with Bisphenol A plastic.
The probability of an American being diagnosed with cancer has dramatically risen in recent history. Personally, every funeral I have ever been to in my life has been for a cancer victim. It is thought-provoking to note that cancer rates have been increasing in the years when America changed from a rural society to an urban society, which necessitated an increase in consumption of canned foods, since fresh foods were no longer so easily available.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in DEVELOPED countries (like the US, Canada, England, etc.) the probability of being diagnosed with cancer is TWICE as high as in developing countries! Cancer has been known as a "western" disease. Of course dozens of factors come in to play for that statistic. But it really makes one wonder exactly what we do differently in our more modern lifestyles that is so harmful to our bodies.
This is an excerpt about BPA in canned foods from an article on Medicine Net:
The Environmental Working Group reported the results of a study in which a national analytical laboratory tested 97 cans of food for BPA. The cans were purchased at supermarkets in Atlanta; Oakland, Calif.; and Clinton, Conn.
The study found that:
- Cans of chicken soup, infant formula, and ravioli had the highest BPA levels.
- 1 in 3 cans of infant formula had BPA levels "200 times the government's traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals."
- Overall, 1 in 10 cans tested had high levels of BPA.
- Beverage cans have fewer BPA residues; canned pasta and canned soups have the highest levels.
Take Action:
Tips from The Green Guide for avoiding BPA contaminates:- Choose soups, milk and soy milk packaged in cardboard "brick" cartons, by Tetra Pak and SIG Combibloc, which are made of safer layers of aluminum and polyethylene (#2) and also recyclable.
- Choose canned foods from makers who don't use BPA, such as Eden Foods (www.edenfoods.com), which sells certified organic canned beans and other foods.
- Eat fresh foods in season and save the canned foods for convenience or emergencies. The exception is some canned fruit such as that found in smaller fruit-cocktail cans, which do not require a liner, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute.
- Buy or can your own fruits and vegetables in safe glass jars. For more, see Amy's Green Kitchen "In a Summer Pickle".
- Some wines have been found to contain up to six times the BPA of canned foods. While most wines probably don't, it's another good reason to drink in moderation.
• Avoid drinking beverages out of plastic containers. This includes bottled water, juice drinks, and others. Drink out of glass or stainless steel.
• Greatly reduce or eliminate your consumption of canned food products. Canned foods typically contain BPA due to the lining inside the can.
• Avoid storing food in plastic containers. Instead, choose Pyrex or glass containers (stainless steel is also acceptable). Also avoid using plastic sandwich bags or plastic wrap products, wherever possible.
• Remember that if you are pregnant or nursing, BPA chemicals are passed through your bloodstream directly to your baby.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Dangers of #7 Plastics: BPA
Number 7 plastics are categorized as "miscellaneous". They could be a mix of two or more of any of the other plastics categories. Some #7 plastics are made with polyactide, which is derived from plants and is very green, compostable, and safe.
Polycarbonate, which contains bisphenol A, or BPA, can also be in this category. Polycarbonate has been shown to leach "hormone disrupters", which has caused parents to question why polycarbonate is used to make cups and bottles, and food containers for children. Bisphenol A is also used to coat the inside of metal food cans, and can be present in the metal lids of glass baby food jars.
BPA has been shown to have the same effects as estrogen in the human body. Many people are exposed to BPA every day. A study by the Center for Disease Control detected BPA in the urine of 95% of the adults sampled.
Various studies have found that BPA can:
- stimulate growth of prostate cancer cells
- cause breast tissue changes similar to early stage breast cancer
- cause ovarian dysfunction
- cause miscarriage
- cause genetic damage when exposed early in life
- cause early onset puberty
- cause changes in hormones, like decreased testosterone
- decrease sperm production
- increase prostate size
- alter immune function
- cause behavioral effects like hyperactivity, aggressiveness, and learning impairment.
According to this study by Environmental Working Group, BPA is present the containers and cans of these infant formulas,
I took the step and cleaned out my kids' bottle/sippy cup collection. Besides checking the bottoms of the cups for the plastics number (I found 2 that were marked #3! PVC!) I used many internet articles and blogs for information:Safe Mama has a BPA free Bottle and Sippy Cup Cheat Sheet that is worth a look. There is also a BPA Free Pacifier and Teether Cheat Sheet.
Z Recommends has compiled a great resource, checking the safety of many MANY different sippy cups and baby bottles. Z Recommends created this printable BPA wallet card for quick reference. Here is the Z Recommends BPA in Pacifiers article. I'm throwing out the AVENT paci! If you are new to the BPA issue, check out Z Recommends: Catching Up on BPA to get yourself up to speed. Z Recommends: National Toxicology Program Concurs "Some Concern" with BPA Exposure.
The Soft Landing has compiled a comprehensive list about Nuby products. Many Nuby products are BPA free. There are many companies who offer BPA free baby bottles and training cups/sippy cups, but Nuby are inexpensive and widely available to big box stores if you need a quick fix. The Soft Landing has other great information on a variety of children's products:
An informative printable (pdf) guide to plastics can be found here:
Smart Plastics Guide for parents and children
Thursday, April 3, 2008
BPA-Free Feeding sets Giveaway!
Overwhelmed at the threat of chemical contamination and don't know what to do about it?
Go over to The Soft Landing Blog and enter to win one of TWO BPA FREE Feeding sets!
If you don't win, you can always just shop!
They also have great info to help you avoid BPA in all sorts of children's products:
Dangers of #6 Plastics: Polystyrene
Styrene is a chemical in polystyrene plastics/Styrofoam. Prolonged exposure to styrene has been found to be toxic to the brain and nervous system. In scientific studies performed on animals :( , styrene was shown to be harmful to red blood cells, liver, kidneys and stomach.
Children can be exposed to styrene in food containers, second-hand smoke, car exhaust fumes, contaminated drinking water, and "off-gassing of building materials".
Some household items like floor wax, floor polish, paint, varnish, adhesive, carpet, and metal cleaner also contain styrene fumes.
Before buying or using products like these, it would be wise to read the labels or request a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Avoid products labeled "poison" or "danger".
Avoid food packaging labeled with a "6" or "PS" (polystyrene). Polystyrene can be made into foam-like containers OR plastic containers. Clear "clam shell" deli conatiners, clear plastic cups, plastic forks, knives, and spoons are usually made of polystyrene. Styrene is prone to leach into hot foods, food with a high fat content, and foods containing alcohol.
Choose foods packaged in glass, paper, metal cans, or cardboard instead of these harmful plastics. Another solution would be to cut off the part of the food that was touching the PS container before eating.
Dangers of #3 Plastics: PVC
I am still in the process of ridding our cabinets of cups, bottles, and plates that contain the harmful hormone-disrupting chemicals. It requires a lot of research to determine what things are safe and what aren't. Beyond plates and cutlery, what about the containers in which some foods are sold? What about plastic toys?
I am trying to educate myself about the plastics labels. Not only is it hard to remember what each plastic number means, some of them are not even labeled!
I was also surprised to learn that a recycling symbol on the bottom of a bottle does not necessarily mean that the product is recyclable.
The labels to avoid are 3, 6, and 7:
The products labeled with "3" contain Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC. PVC is not accepted by most recycling programs, although it is possible to recycle PVC into building material. PVC has been found to pose dangers to human health as well as to the environment. PVC has hazardous qualities in the factories where it is produced and in our homes.
Those who work with Vinyl Chloride have a high risk of liver cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia. When PVC is made (or burned), harmful chemicals called "dioxins" are released. These chemicals can cause suppressed immune function and harm the reproductive system by disrupting hormones. They are also carcinogenic. Even low level exposures can cause low birth weight, and learning and behavior problems in children.
PVC needs many additives to make it stable and usable. Often these
chemical additives are harmful in and of themselves. Lead is often added to strengthen PVC. Another common additive is DEHP. DEHP is a phthalate suspected of causing cancer and reproductive disruption. Children are exposed to phthalates in PVC when they chew on vinyl toys. In 2005, European Parliment voted to ban the use of toxic phthlates in toys. They are still legal for use by US toy companies. Soft PVC (like those used in baby toys) contains plasticizers, usually phthalate esters,which are not chemically bound to the plastic and therefore leach or migrate. Phthalates in soft PVC toys have been banned in Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Greece and Mexico.
You know that "plastic smell", like the kind that emanates from a new car or a shower curtain? that is poisonous chemicals "off-gassing" from the PVC. According to the Center of Health, Environment, and Justice, "One EPA study found that vinyl shower curtains can cause elevated levels of dangerous air toxins, which can persist more than a month."
How can we spot harmful PVC toys? Healthy Child, Healthy World answers, "Some PVC toys may be labeled with a V or #3 inside the chasing arrows triangle usually located on the bottom of a product. Most won't be labeled at all. Generally, if a toy is a squishy plastic—like rubber duckies and baby dolls—or if it has highly flexible plastic as a component—like the clear pages in child "photo albums," the clear plastic purses that some girl's toys are sold in, or the plastic-like "fabric" used on some dolls—you should avoid it or call the manufacturer to ask if the product is made with PVC or phthalates."
