Safe(?) Plastics... Making the change...

[onlyAngil]

I have been thinking about this for a while and after this post ~~~> http://www.mothering.com/discussions...7#post10727987 I was thinking it was about time I found out.

Are there "safe" plastics? What plastic info do you think one really should know? Do you have any good sites?

I am slowly making the change to a plastic free home. What are good ways to cut plastics out, with out going crazy (tossing half my sons toys!)? I want to get mason jars for mama's milk, left overs (right now we are reusing delivery things, so that is good for reusing things ), ext. What is a safe alt. for my DS(2yo) to drink out of? and nlo? I mean I am going to BF but there will be a time that s/he might need to take a bottle when I am working (doula, or what have you)...

If I think of anything else I will ask.

TIA!

[octobermoon]

Originally Posted by onlyAngil

I have been thinking about this for a while and after this post ~~~> http://www.mothering.com/discussions...7#post10727987 I was thinking it was about time I found out.

Are there "safe" plastics? What plastic info do you think one really should know? Do you have any good sites?

I am slowly making the change to a plastic free home. What are good ways to cut plastics out, with out going crazy (tossing half my sons toys!)? I want to get mason jars for mama's milk, left overs (right now we are reusing delivery things, so that is good for reusing things ), ext. What is a safe alt. for my DS(2yo) to drink out of? and nlo? I mean I am going to BF but there will be a time that s/he might need to take a bottle when I am working (doula, or what have you)...

If I think of anything else I will ask.

TIA!

I would also like to hear peoples thoughts on this issue......

[Cujobunny]

Plastics info

http://www.healthobservatory.org/lib...fm?refid=77083

[mercy589]

My blog is all about this. In the very beginning there's a long informative article about this with lots of links.

[j_e_n_n_y]

This is a really good list regarding finding BPA-free plastic baby products (cups, breastmilk storage, etc). It's comprehensive and updated often:

http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2008/02/z-...-products.html

For food storage, we've been using Frigoverre products. They make round and rectangular glass storage sets, which I found cheapest at Crate & Barrel:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=850&f=8665
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=850&f=9430

They also make 1 and 2 liter glass pitchers with lids...you can find them at Greenfeet:

http://greenfeet.com/itemMatrix.asp?...0&MatrixType=1

[Missa]

Does anyone know about the plastic jugs (I hate that word ) milk comes in? My mom told me I should be pouring my milk into a glass container like the one j_e_n_n_y posted from greenfeet. I can't seem to find milk in cartons around here, plastic is the only option. Does the bad stuff really leach in the milk??

[russianthistle]

NAK
If I wasn't NAK I would get the specifics out of the book I've been reading...I will return tomorrow with more concise info.

With regards to the recycling numbers:
1 is for one-time use only...some suspect it may leach toxins, esp. if exposed to heat or sunlight.

2 is safe (the safest, I think...)

3 is BAD (PVC...clear plastic wraps...soft toys)

4 and 5 are good choices if you're into plastic or have to use it

6 is BAD (polystyrene...leaches toxins into food)

7 is BAD (Lexan or, I think, polycarbonate...is made w/ bisphenol-A which leaches toxins into food) some baby bottles are made with this...

And, heating up food in plastics, no matter which, is not ever safe.

I can tell you what the book says, later...the book is called Organic Pregnancy.

[SusanInItaly]

This is probably a stupid question, but where does Tupperware (the brand, not Gladware,etc) fit into this? I have some I have to admit I love...

[j_e_n_n_y]

Unfortunately, Tupperware is rated "poor" on the Z Report:

http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2008/02/z-...upperware.html

"Poor: Companies rated "Poor" demonstrate an unwillingness to acknowledge the legitimacy of consumers' concerns about Bisphenol-A and/or offer few or no BPA-free products."

[russianthistle]

I know that some tupperware is #5...which is okay, they say. check the bottom for the number...I'lll be back this afternoon with specifics from that book I wrote about earlier.

[russianthistle]

The following information comes from the book The Complete Organic Pregnancy by Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu, page 105. It is a table that lists, in this order, plastic type, how the plastic is used, and the author's thoughts on the plastic type:

"#1 PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate), most clear beverage bottles, best used in moderation; recycle after one use"

"#2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), opaque food bottles, milk and water jugs, the safest choice if you're using plastic"

"#3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride, aka vinyl) Food containers, some plastic or cling wraps, some soft bottles, Avoid...PVC plastics contain softening phthalates. If you use plastic wrap, don't let it touch your food"

"#4 LDPE (low-density polyethylene) used in food storage bags and some soft bottles, a good choice if you're using plastic"

"#5 PP (polyproylene) used in rigid containers, including some baby bottles and some cups and bowls, a good choice if you're using plastic"

"#6 PS (polystyrene), styrofoam, used in take-out containers, meat and bakery trays, and, in its hard form, clear take-out containers and some plastic cutlery and cups, Avoid: it leaches chemicals into food, some of which can disrupt normal hormonal functioning"

"#7 polycarbonate or Lexan, used in 5-gallon water bottles, some baby bottles, and some metal can linings, Avoid: polycarbonate can release bisphenol-A, a suspected hormone disrupter that may cause chromosomal disruption, miscarriages, and birth defects"

Again, this is from The Complete Organic Pregnancy by Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu, page 105.