Have a wonderful Thanksgiving today readers! See you back here on Monday, December 1, 2008.
Photo from Flickr by Clarity
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
Melamine found in baby formula manufactured in the U.S. November 26, 2008
MSNBC and The Daily Green are both reporting today that “extremely low” levels of melamine have been found in baby formula manufactured in the United States. The FDA will not release which formula it was found in.
As reported on MSNBC, “The Food and Drug Administration said last month it was unable to identify any melamine exposure level as safe for infants, but a top official said it would be a “dangerous overreaction” for parents to stop feeding infant formula to babies who depend on it.”
“Melamine is the chemical found in Chinese infant formula — in far larger concentrations — that has been blamed for killing at least three babies and making at least 50,000 others ill.
Previously undisclosed tests, obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act, show that the FDA has detected melamine in a sample of one popular formula and the presence of cyanuric acid, a chemical relative of melamine, in the formula of a second manufacturer.
Separately, a third major formula maker told AP that in-house tests had detected trace levels of melamine in its infant formula.
The three firms — Abbott Laboratories, Nestle and Mead Johnson — manufacture more than 90 percent of all infant formula produced in the United States.
The FDA and other experts said the melamine contamination in U.S.-made formula had occurred during the manufacturing process, rather than intentionally.”
There have been no reports of illness due to contaminated baby formula in the United States.
UPDATE November 26, 2008: Safe Mama is reporting that out of the 77 formulas tested by the FDA, two were found to contain trace amounts of melamine:
- Mead Johnsons Enfamil LIPIL with Iron: 2 tests read 0.137ppm and 0.14ppm
- Nestle’s Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron: 3 tests with an average of 0.247ppm
UPDATE November 27, 2008, 10:00am: MSNBC is reporting a correction to which baby formulas manufactured in the US contained trace amounts of melamine:
“During a series of calls with formula manufacturers starting Monday — put together hurriedly, according to several participants, as the AP was preparing to publish its story — the FDA has told manufacturers it has taken 230 samples of various products, including pediatric supplements and ingredients used in infant formula. Leon said that 87 of those samples are of infant formula, and that 77 of those have been analyzed.
Under the corrected information she relayed Wednesday, the results were:
- Nestle’s Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron had two positive tests for melamine on one sample, with readings of 0.137 and 0.14 parts per million.
- Mead Johnson’s Infant Formula Powder, Enfamil LIPIL with Iron had three positive tests for cyanuric acid, at an average of 0.247 parts per million.
Separately, a third major formula maker — Abbott Laboratories, whose brands include Similac — told AP that in-house tests had detected trace levels of melamine in its infant formula. Those levels were below what FDA found in the other formulas, an Abbott spokesman said, and below any nation’s safety guidelines.
The three firms — Abbott Laboratories, Nestle and Mead Johnson — manufacture more than 90 percent of all infant formula produced in the United States.”
Safe Mama is also reporting that:
Companies coming forward that claim their own testing shows no melamine content:
- Hain Celestial Group Inc – Earth’s Best Organic Formula
- Privately held PBM Nutritionals (store brand formulas)
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
Now you can recycle your Brita filters!
I learned from Teensygreen the other day that Brita will now start recycling their filters. As of January, you can take your used filtes to any Whole Foods store. If you don’t live near one, you can send them to Preserve, the company I wrote earlier about that recycles #5 plastics into toothbrushes and other items. Preserve asks that you send the filters in used cardboard boxes by ground shipping to this address:
Preserve Gimme 5
823 NYS Rte 13
Cortland NY 13045
Drinking filtered tap water instead of bottled spring water is now even more eco-friendly!
Brita Faucet Filter
Plastic bags may cost you in NYC and elsewhere November 25, 2008
Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City is proposing that all stores charge 6 cents for each plastic bag a customer asks for. Five cents would go to the city and one cent would go to the store owner. The ultimate goal is to encourage customers to start using reusable bags. Ikea started charging customers five cents per bag in 2007 and they report a decrease in plastic bag requests in their stores by 50%.
So lets hear it, readers – participate in the poll today!
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
Startling fact about formaldehyde November 24, 2008
I was watching “Stuff Happens” on Planet Green yesterday and Bill Nye was talking about insulation for your home. He mentioned that formaldehyde is in traditional fiber glass insulation and the “anti-green” issue with it is that after we’re through with it, it goes in a dump, thus reeking havoc on the environment. Two “greener” alternatives to fiberglass insulation were given. One was recycled blue jeans and the other was vegetables, believe it or not. There is now a vegetable oil polyurethane insulation foam where bubbles within it trap air. Both are amazing products.
What really struck me during this segment was a horrifying fact he gave about formaldehyde. Twenty years ago, two times the amount of formaldehyde was needed to embalm a body. Now, only half the amount is needed due to the fact that we have so much formaldehyde already in our body. Here are typical products that contain it:
- cosmetics
- paper
- wood
- clothes
- mouthwash
- nail polish
- hair spray
- perfume
- floor polish
- toothpaste
- wax
- spray starch
- deodorant
According to Wikipedia, formaldehyde is “classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that there is “sufficient evidence” that occupational exposure to formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans. Formaldehyde has been banned in cosmetics in both Sweden and Japan.”
Scary, isn’t it? Probably the simplest ways to reduce the amount of formaldehyde you come in contact with is to read the ingredients on all your personal care products, visit Skin Deep for safer ones, and use “greener” cleaning supplies. Remember, small changes over a long period of time can make a big difference.
UPDATE: December 1, 2008 – The EPA has announced that it will be looking into the health risks of formaldehyde in pressed wood products
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
Your daily dose of eco-mommy tips November 21, 2008
If you haven’t heard about The Daily Bite yet, you really need to. Each day, an email can be sent to you with great tid-bits on all things “green”. You can even get additional specific information for your area if you live near a city.
As of today, Mom’s can now get “green” information delivered each day to their inbox too. Check it out – you’ll thank yourself afterwards.
Ideal Bite
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
Giveaway – Bee M.D. Organic Honey Throat Drops November 20, 2008
UPDATE: Giveaway has ended. Congratulations Jill, Jen, Organicsyes, Patti, and GlassBathTubGirl!
This is such a great time of year – the changing leaves, the crisp air, the holiday season. What all of us can do without, though, are those troublesome colds that always seems to sneak up on us. I always fight mine every step of the way and then somewhere by the second day, I give in because I know I’ve been beaten. At that point, I just need to rely on my favorite cold remedy – you do what you have to do to get through it.
Bee M.D. Organic Throat Drops
Well, now there’s something new to add to your medicine cabinet. Bee M.D. Organic Honey Throat Drops are USDA certified organic and have no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Bee MD uses only all natural, recycled or biodegradable materials and packaging everywhere possible and for every purchase, they donate money to support the research and protection of bees.
Bee M.D. Organic Throat Drops are available in Natural Honey and Honey Lemon and you can find them at your local drug store, grocery store and Drugstore.com.
Lucky You: Bee M.D. is giving away a bag of their throat drops to 5 people! You can have up to 5 entries:
- Leave a comment.
- Stumble this post
- Mention it on Twitter linking to me.
- Subscribe to my blog or let me know if you’re already a subscriber.
- Mention this give-a-way on your own blog and link back to me.
Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry that you’re going for. The give-a-way will run through November 28th. All winners will be emailed so make sure you include your email address with your entry. Winners will be chosen by random. This give-a-way is open to U.S. and Canadian residents. Good luck everyone!
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
Product Review – Miessence Certified Organics November 19, 2008
Thanks to the Crunchy Domestic Goddess, a few weeks ago I won a selection of products by Miessence Certified Organics. Miessence’s personal care products and makeup are the first skin care line to be certified organic to food standards. They’ve also received the seal of approval by Australia’s leading certifying body, The Australian Certified Organic (ACO). Skin Deep has tested 84 of their products, all of which have a “low hazard” score. Many of them have a score of “0″, the safest score possible.
I’ve had the opportunity to try the Balancing Cleanser, Balancing Skin Conditioner, Balancing Moisturizer, Desert Flower Shampoo, Shine Herbal Hair Conditioner, Mint Toothpaste, Breath Fresh Spray, and Jaffa Lip Balm. They had a wonderfully mild scent and all worked really well. My favorites, though, are the lip balm, skin conditioner and moisturizer.
I’ve mentioned before on my blog about my love affair of lip balms. Miessence’s lip balm definitely rates high with me due its soothing effect and slight sheen, which I though was really nice. Using the skin conditioner and moisturizer together at night left my skin the softest I think I’ve ever felt by morning.
Meissence products are on the more expensive side but their prices are comparable and perhaps even less than other products you would find at health food stores.
Miessence Balancing Skin Conditioner
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
Flame Retardants in PJ’s November 18, 2008
The Smart Mama just wrote a really informative post on flame retardants in children’s pj’s and how to avoid them if you wish to.
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
Eco-friendly Gift Guide
Green and Clean Mom has put together a great eco-holiday gift guide filled with ideas for babies through adults. Head on over there and take a look!
Green and Clean Mom
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
