The Soft Landing Blog » Ask TSL

Are FoodSaver and Seal-a-Meal Bags Safe?

Alicia — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:59:41 +0000

Today we’re tackling another great suggestion submitted by one of our readers: what type of plastic are FoodSaver and Seal-a-Meal vacuum bags made from and is it safe?

We spoke with Jarden Consumer Solutions, who happens to make both products, and confirmed that all of their 5 ply vacuum bags are made from poly nylon plastic. They explained that the bags are a polyethylene/nylon blend and all bags are BPA-free. And they are made without PVC and phthalates as well. This is great news for folks who buy their food in bulk and freeze extras for future use!

By the way, many of the FoodSaver and Seal-a-Meal products are available through Amazon.com – - and you can support the Environmental Working Group’s amazing research by using THIS LINK to shop

Learn How to Do Your Own Research in Our Free Mini Course

Alicia — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:37:11 +0000

How in the world do you choose safer product from thousands of untested, unlabeled and unhealthy options sitting on the shelves of your local store?

It’s seems like a full time job to keep your family safe sometimes. As our family team has spent years researching toxic plastic alternatives, we’ve learned the ins and outs of getting to the heart of the matter quickly. We’ve made costly mistakes, wasted many hours asking the wrong questions, and listened to lines of bologna like you’ve never imagined.

We’ve been asked by thousands of parents to teach them how to do their own research. Now we’ve condensed the most important aspects of getting the job done right into a free 5 Step Mini Course so you can become the Non-toxic Ninja Researcher you’ve always dreamed of being!

What You’ll Learn

What you’re looking for and why
How to decipher labels and identify common uses for different types of plastics
Tips on minimizing your overall exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals
Why some plastics are inherently toxic
Doing your own detective work

Enter your name and email address in the form at the upper right side of our website to get started with your five daily email mini course.

Do BPA-free Canned or Jarred Tomatoes Exist?

Alicia — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:26:51 +0000

Is it possible to enjoy pre-prepared tomatoes without BPA?

So far we’ve come up empty-handed in searching for BPA-free tomatoes. In fact, Eden Organic is the only company currently using a BPA-free lining for their any canned foods in the U.S. – and even they haven’t quite perfected a sturdy enough lining to withstand the acidity of tomatoes. Eden Organic Beans are packed in steel cans coated with a baked on oleoresinous c-enamel lining that does not contain BPA (oleoresin is a natural mixture of an oil and a resin extracted from various plants, such as pine or balsam fir).

Only one country in the world has drastically reduced the use of BPA (in their cans and other food packaging), and that’s Japan. Between 1998 and 2003, Japan removed the standard BPA epoxy found in aluminum cans and replaced it with it with PET film lamination on the inner surface of cans. They also used an EXR paint that had much less BPA migration into food when necessary. Following their reduction and replacement moves, a team of assessors claim that virtually no BPA is found in canned foods and drinks in Japan now.

So where does that leave us right now?

For now we don’t have the luxury of running to the store to grab pre-prepared tomatoes, because even BPA-free glass jars are capped with aluminum lids lined with BPA. Utne.com recently discussed an article from the Winter 2009-2010 edition of Organic Gardening. The magazine asked endocrine-disruptor expert, Frederick vom Saal, about the potential health hazards of BPA-lined glass jar lids. He suggested that if the lid doesn’t contact the food, it’s not a problem, but because that’s unlikely to be the case, he recommends using a BPA-free product.

The only option for truly BPA-free tomatoes is to can them yourself for off-season months – and there are only two possibilities available:

Weck Canning Jars – they’re 100% glass (body and lid) with a rubber sealing ring and no lining.
Ball Canning/mason jars using Plastic Storage Caps – they’re BPA-free, freezer grade plastic.

Our recommendation until BPA is removed

Canning tomatoes isn’t possible for many of us, so we’ll just have to prioritize while we wait for the very slow FDA to make a move. We recommend you eat fresh if possible and choose glass jars when necessary for a lower exposure to BPA.

UPDATE 1/14/10: We finally confirmed some BPA-free tomato options thanks to our awesome blog reader’s suggestions! Read about it here.

P.S. This was yet another great Skribit suggestion from our readers! Looking for something else? Let us know by leaving your own suggestion on the right-hand side of our blog —->>>>

We’re Listening: Tell Us What You Need for a Healthier 2010

Alicia — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:07:08 +0000

One of our goals for the New Year is to refine our research and blog topics to fit your needs. To make leaving suggestions really easy, we added a great little tool called Skribit to our side bar. Now you can drop us a note as soon as the thought hits you!

Our most recent article on safe humidifiers came straight from one of the suggestions left in our Skribit box. From the large response to the article, I’d say it was a much needed bit of info for parents during this cold and cough ridden time of year!

How it Works

No signing in or revealing your identity required
You can opt to sign in and follow yours and other’s suggestions (this also lets us know which suggestion is most popular)
Once we complete a suggestion, we’ll link our blog post and followers of the suggestion will be notified
You can review previous answered suggestions on our Skirbit profile page

So get to it and start letting us know what’s on your mind! We’re listening . . .

P.S. Another change we’re making for 2010 is to transfer all our email subscribers to a centrally located, more secure service provider. So you’ll be getting a new request for confirmation soon. I know it’s a bugger, but we’d sure appreciate you taking a minute to click and confirm

Ask TSL: Can You Recommend a Safe Humidifier for My Children?

Alicia — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:02:45 +0000

We’ve been keeping our eyes open for a warm mist humidifier made without polycarbonate plastic for quite a while and we kept coming back empty-handed. Safe Mama reported in early 2009 that her search had been unsuccessful too.

Last week our kids passed around a heavy duty cold, so I dug out our old standby Vicks humidifier. I decided to check out the type of plastic used just in case it was made with safer plastic by some off chance. I was surprised to find the recycling code #2 (HDPE) on the white base and #5 (polypropylene) on the blue outer and black inner pieces. All this time I had a great option sitting in my linen closet and didn’t even know it!

You can find the Vicks Warm Steam Humidifier at Drugstore.com for about $16.00. There appears to be several other brands with options like Vicks, so we’ll be checking into them and publishing a full list of BPA-free humidifiers soon.

UPDATE 1/20/10: If you’re looking for a cool mist humidifier, we just confirmed that all Crane humidifiers are BPA, PVC and phthalate-free.

The GermGuardian H3010 Digital Ultrasonic Humidifier is BPA, PVC and phthalate-free (all humidifiers have a PVC wrapped cord).

Stainless Steel Water Bottles Made in the USA

Alicia — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:13:39 +0000

This is one of the most common requests we hear from our customers and blog readers. So far, the answer is straightforward – there are no USA made stainless steel bottles at this time. We have a great discussion going on this topic in the comments section of our Thinksport article, where you’ll see many bottles thought to be made in the USA mentioned and then clarified.

Does it bum me out? Yes. I would love to be able to support a product made right here in our country. But the logistics of manufacturing a stainless steel bottle in America are out of this world and extremely cost-prohibitive.

Does it worry me? No. We choose the manufacturers we work with at The Soft Landing very carefully. We interview each and every company about their production oversight, chemical contaminant testing practices, and their factory’s fair treatment of employees.

P.S. If you’re wondering about our take on the safety of products made in China as compared to those made in the USA, you can read more about it in our store’s Learning Center here.

P.P.S. If you happen to know of a USA made bottle we’re missing, please give a shout out!

Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees: Not an Obvious Answer

Alicia — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:35:20 +0000

At first glance, artificial trees seem to make more sense as a long-term solution when considering cost, ease of use and the reusability factor. Artificial trees actually have some eye appeal these days, as compared to the days when they were manufactured by a toilet brush company. Cutting down a living tree seems like a bad choice for the environment and it’s also a yearly investment during the most draining time of the year.

So how is a family to make the right decision? Is it a no-win deal when every aspect has been taken into consideration? No, not really – because there is more to both sides of this story . . .

Artificial Trees: The Dark Side

Most artificial trees are made from PVC plastic. Not only is PVC loaded with toxic chemicals, its production also results in emission of dioxin and ethylene dichloride.
Lead is often used as a stabilizer in PVC to make artificial trees more resistant to light and weathering. Lead has been linked to kidney, liver, neurological and reproductive system damage. Some Christmas trees are even required to carry warning labels because they shed lead-laden dust, exposing children to the toxic chemical.
Other non-renewable metals and plastics are used to make artificial trees.
Many artificial trees are treated with flame retardants, and yet they can still catch fire.

Real Trees: The Bright Side

While pine trees contain resins and other aromatic chemicals that can damage the respiratory tract, causing chronic respiratory disease and asthma, fir and spruce trees do not contain the same irritating chemicals.
They are a natural, renewable, reusable, recyclable source.
Live evergreen trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases while they are growing, and emit fresh oxygen. Approximately 1 million acres of holiday trees growing in the United States supply about 18 million people a day with oxygen.
Organic, pesticide-free Christmas trees are becoming more widely available.
You can support U.S. made products and farmers by purchasing live Christmas trees, because they are grown in all 50 States.

As you can probably guess, my husband and I took the kids on our traditional trek to find the perfect live Christmas tree again this year. We found a beautiful blue-green fir and we’re enjoying the fresh aroma constantly! It’s also a wonderful opportunity to support a local business too

Is it Safe to Wash Plastic Bottles and Dishes in the Dishwasher?

Alicia — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:52:38 +0000

Have you ever wondered if it’s okay to wash plastic food containers in the dishwasher, even if they are BPA-free? That’s a great question that requires a two-part answer, because not all plastic containers the same . . .

Most Reusable Bottles and Dishes are Dishwasher Safe

Many plastic containers are specifically intended for reuse and are usually clearly marked. The dishes in this category come from two main categories:

Heavy duty everyday reusables (dishware, utensils, baby bottles, sippy cups, etc.) are dishwasher safe and will withstand heat and detergents for many years. Some examples would be Frostware and Preserve Everyday Tableware
Take and toss style reusables are dishwasher safe but don’t stand up well in the long run, so keep an eye on them and recycle them when they begin to warp. Some examples would be Nuby Wash or Toss and Gladware Food Storage

Some Food Containers from Grocery Stores are Not Dishwasher Safe

Most yogurt, cream cheese or peanut butter containers are made from polypropylene (#5) which is great in regard to the absence of toxic chemicals. But many are made with very thin plastic walls that just won’t hold up when exposed to dishwasher heat and detergents. You’ll have to be the judge: if the plastic container is too flimsy and ends up warped, it’s probably not meant to be reused.

Also be careful to check your take out containers, as most are made from a firm polystyrene plastic (#6) that looks and feels an awful lot like polypropylene. You’ll never want to reuse these containers and you should even consider using your own on-the-go containers instead. An easy way to check for polystyrene is to look for a lack flexibility in the container. Polypropylene will be slightly squeezable.

Don’t Forget to Wash Them on the Top Rack

Always place plastic dishes on the top rack to reduce heat exposure and hand wash large dishes that won’t fit up top. And while we’re on the topic of heat and plastics, we don’t recommend microwaving plastic at all either.

Ask TSL: Does Tupperware Contain BPA?

Alicia — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:34:28 +0000

Tupperware is one of the most recognized names in food storage, which explains why we are consistently asked whether they use BPA in their products. There is no short, simple answer to this question, but Tupperware does provide some information to help us sort through their products.

As of today, Tupperware lists the Rock ‘N Serve™ and Vent ‘N Serve™ storage and microwave reheating containers as being made from polycarbonate, which uses bisphenol-a (BPA) as one if its main building blocks. The full list of products includes:

Ice Prisms: Bowls, Pitcher & Tumbler Set
Kitchen Duos
Microsteamer
Microwave Cooker – Oval
Microwave Luncheon Plate
Quick Chef Base
Sheerly Elegant Line
Tumbler Bouquet & Pitcher Set

And while they’re careful to point out that “polycarbonate is NOT used in Tupperware baby bottles or toys,” they devote a whole section of their website to defending the use of BPA, even linking to the chemical industry’s website singing the praises of the BPA.

Bisphenol-A has been an approved substance for use in food contact products for decades. Governmental regulatory agencies around the world, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, the European Food Safety Agency, the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency and the Japanese Ministry for Health, Labor and Welfare have all approved the material. Over the last ten years, other scientists have raised concerns over the substance, including the amount which migrates out of the products during heating. These governmental agencies have reconfirmed the safety of the material during this period. Tupperware also has conducted migration studies of bisphenol-A from its products using independent testing laboratories, and found the migration levels to be within acceptable levels, as specified by the Governmental regulatory agencies.

On the strength of the repeated governmental scrutiny that polycarbonate has had, Tupperware continues to believe the material is safe. However, as Tupperware has the highest regard for the safety of the consumers of its products and the functionality of these products, it will continue to closely monitor this scientific debate and research the best materials for use in its products.

So while we’re thrilled to see some straightforward answers for consumers, we’re still hoping Tupperware will take a cue updated research findings and look for an alternative to polycarbonate.

P.S. If you can’t afford to switch out your Tupperware for safer food storage options right now, be sure NOT to take their advice on microwaving:

Q: Is it safe to microwave in Tupperware® products?

A: Yes, Tupperware® products that are intended for use in the microwave, including products made from polycarbonate, are safe for such use.

We Need Your Input: What Would You Like to See in Future How To Guides?

Alicia — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:48:09 +0000

We recently sent out a call for future How To Guide ideas on Twitter and Facebook and we got a lot of innovative suggestions (thank you!). Now we want to take it a step further to learn which ideas you like best so far, and to find out what other topics you’d like to see in our future guides. We appreciate your insight so much that we’ll give you FREE Shipping just for leaving a suggestion in the comments section below!

Check out the great ideas we’ve gotten so far and vote for your favorites (you can vote for up to 3 different options).

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Thanks for lending us your brains! Be sure to include your email when signing in to leave a new suggestion for us below so we can email you a FREE Shipping code