ZRecs vs. Tupperware: A Lesson in Uncovering Product Material Lists

Parents across the world have grown weary of the games being played by the major manufacturers of our children’s feeding gear. The market is experiencing one of history’s fastest swings away from a single chemical used in product manufacturing. Manufacturers are reeling in the wake of requests for information regarding the types of plastic used in their products and it’s obvious that many of them are unsure how to handle the uproar.

A case in point is Tupperware, who had been very secretive with their materials list until a few weeks ago when ZRecs was able to persuade them to provide complete information (you can find the full list here). Take a look at how difficult manufacturers can make this process:

Over the past weeks we have had extensive email and telephone contact with Tupperware through their Worldwide Director of Quality Management and Research & Development, Jan Stevens, after their PR firm helped us set up a conference call. I had a great conversation with him, and found him to be not only knowledgeable and passionate but frank, sincere, and open to new information and perspectives. Based on the information we received from him, we can now confirm that all Tupperware children’s items are BPA-free, and that Tupperware has a major customer relations problem on its hands.

My encounter with Mr. Stevens was the first I have ever had with an industry executive at a polycarbonate-using company in which they admitted some legitimate room for parental concern about BPA.

At the beginning of our conversation Jan spent about ten minutes in the firm, aggressive tone we have heard so frequently in our dealings with entrenched companies. When he had finished outlining Tupperware’s position, I pointed out to him that the scientific studies of BPA examine targeted and isolated exposure and that while these levels might not reach those he or Tupperware would consider a concern, many parents are trying to limit the children’s total exposure levels, which encompassed a vast array of plastic products their children interact with on a daily basis, and that these studies did not - and possibly could not - address these issues in a laboratory setting. He shocked me by agreeing that this was a “different matter,” that “the research is not yet in” about how total environmental exposure to BPA might affect fetal and child development, and that parents might be legitimately concerned about reducing their children’s overall exposure to BPA. He then agreed to send me a complete listing of Tupperware products and the exact materials they were all made of.

ZRecs initially spent upwards of 15 hours in labor intensive research and eventually brought in a PR firm as mediator. Only then were they given complete access to Tupperware’s material list. Downright absurd. As Jeremiah so eloquently put it,

It is foolish to treat consumer reporters as we have been treated, it is corporate suicide to treat customers that way, and the trouble with bloggers is that they are both. Any company that exhibits this kind of pattern of behavior needs to recast its relationship with consumers for the twenty-first century, and we can’t think of many companies that would be more harmed by a failure to do so than Tupperware - the company’s independent sales reps, who helped build and remain the lifeblood of that company, reap what the multinational sows, and rely on the brand’s gold-standard status to sell the products that feed their families.

The Soft Landing Team has spoken with thousands of parents about the issue. We know firsthand, without a doubt, that they are taking notes on how each company responds. Hiding behind BPA assurance letters and other rhetoric such as “our ingredient list is proprietary” instantly creates a sense of mistrust among consumers.

We’ve also seen the other side of the coin. Manufacturers who were among the first to lay it all out like Boon, Evenflo, Nuby and Sassy have seen outrageous growth in past months. It’s not always because their products are of the highest quality or design - it’s simply because they’ve been honest and forthcoming with every single annoying little request we’ve made of them. Period.

Which Munchkin Products are BPA and PVC Free?

Munchkin has been one of the most evasive baby product manufacturers for us. We’ve contacted them repeatedly for over six months and have been ignored at every turn.

THEN - lo and behold - one of our readers tipped us off about a list Munchkin published on their website. While the list doesn’t include teethers, it does cover materials used in baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, feeding accessories and disposable products. It turns out that Munchkin actually has a great line of sippy cups and disposable products that are completely BPA and PVC free.

ZRecs.com was able to interact with Munchkin earlier this year to provide a list of BPA free products. ZRecs.com also pointed out that Munchkin is a member of the Coalition for Consumer Choice, a pro-BPA group which opposes BPA reform on behalf of major toy and feeding product companies and chemical industry trade organizations.

A CHALLENGE TO MUNCHKIN: Your consumers are ready for you to take the next step! Just do it - go ahead and lay out the material lists for the rest of your products. We would love to be able to recommend your BPA and PVC free teethers, bath toys and developmental toys.

Munchkin Products Containing BPA

Tri-Flow Wide Mouth Bottles

Tri-Flow Angled Bottles

Dora the Explorer Ring Pacifiers (also includes pacifiers with leash)

Munchkins Products Containing PVC

White Hot Safety Spoons

What About BPA in High Chairs?

A Safe Mama reader posed the question and of course Kathy went right into action to find an answer . . .

Dear Safe Mama, What about my child’s high chair trays? He eats off of it… does it have BPA? Phthalates? The plague? Help!

We’ve been asked a few times what materials high chairs are made of. The focus of all the BPA attention in the news and online has been on bottles and formula. Now that parents are becoming more aware of it they want to know more. Just where does it lurk? High chair trays were a smart place to wonder about since many people serve food off them to their kids, sans plates. I know I did. Why wash two things when you can wash one. But now people are wondering if serving food off them is the best idea in light of BPA. If trays were made of BPA laden polycarbonate plastic, the levels would be low and probably not have the same “danger” associated as bottles. But parents don’t care about “safe levels” anymore and just don’t want it in their products. Period.

Rest easy worried parents. So far it’s looking as though the material of choice for high chair trays is polypropylene (#5 on the recycling scale) and is BPA Free. Resident researcher Safe Mama Jaime did some legwork and called a few high chair companies. Here are the results:

Chicco: Trays are Polypropylene
Graco: All trays polypropylene except the wooden chair uses ABS plastic for the tray
Evenflo: Majestic Tray liners are polypropylene

Of course this isn’t every high chair known to man, but it’s a good indication that trays are mainly BPA Free. However, I have heard from friends that their trays are marked with a #7 on the recycling scale. Flip your tray over and check. If this is the case for you, please call the manufacturer and ask them to tell you what material it’s made of. If you find out please visit us and let us know your findings, either here in the comments or via email and we’ll add to this list.

Thanks Safe Mama for staying on top of these important issues!

BPA Free Evenflo Sippy Cup Review

The new BPA free Evenflo Fun Sip 10oz sippys have been quite a hit. The cup comes in two styles: a traditional sippy cup with spout and a straw cup with flip-top. Both cups are insulated and feature a leak resistant valve to help prevent spills. The bright 3-D design helps entice toddlers to get that healthy water intake they need.

We asked a real Mommy to give the cups a test drive. Melanie of Livin’ with Me! agreed to take the challenge:

There’s been a lot in the news lately about sippy cups and bottles that contain BPA and how it isn’t safe for our children. Finding a BPA free sippy cup in the stores proved to be pretty difficult. So, when the great people at The Soft Landing offered to let us review their BPA-free Evenflo sippy cup with a straw I was excited to do it.

Hailey’s safety is the most important thing to me- so having a BPA-free sippy cup for her is my first priority. But you know what else I want? A straw sippy cup that doesn’t leak all over the place. These Evenflo cups do leak a little bit when first tipped upside down. With other straw sippy cups we have tried the liquid has actually poured out of the straw or has continued to leak out the entire time it is tipped upside down. So, a few drips coming out when the cup is first tipped upside down is great. It’s the best I have found.

I wanted Hailey to use these cups for a couple of weeks before doing my review so that I could let you know how they stand up. They have been fabulous. The cups have been dropped and thrown and taken all of the usual toddler abuse. They are easy to take apart to wash and easy to put back together. I really like these BPA-free Evenflo sippy cups with straws and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a safe and durable sippy cup.

Melanie’s take on the sippy cup concurs with most the feedback we’re hearing from our customers. We’re happy to be able to offer a great non-toxic cup at an affordable price.

You can win one for yourself by going to Livin’ with Me! and leaving a comment on Melanie’s blog post by May 6th, 2008.

P.S. Leaving a comment on our post is a really nice thing to do, but it wont’ win you a new set of sippy cups

The Soft Landing Featured in the Kansas City Star

Ooohhh yeah, now that was fun!  We’ve always been a little camera shy, so we weren’t sure about this whole interview adorned with goofy professional pictures of us on one of our many BPA Free Field Trips.  It turned out to be a blast!  We thought Stacy Downs did a fantastic job with the article BPA Alternatives: Consumers Look for Safer Choices.  She went right to the heart of the matter, presenting our true motivation for founding The Soft Landing as well as educating Midwest parents of the looming BPA concern.  Here’s a little snippet from the best part of the article (just kidding, be sure to read whole article when you have a chance).

On a mission

Alicia Voorhies of Olathe remembers feeling shocked two years ago when her sister in South Carolina called to say her son’s pediatrician told her she needed to switch baby bottles. That was the first time Voorhies heard the term BPA. The former nurse and mother of three young children began researching plastics online. The more studies she read, the more concerned she grew about BPA and phthalates, another controversial chemical compound used in plastics.

Studies on laboratory animals show a possible link between even small amounts of BPA and breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, hyperactivity and other serious disorders. Frederick vom Saal, a professor at University of Missouri-Columbia and one of the key researchers of BPA, says the chemical can cause reproductive problems.

Voorhies routinely calls manufacturers, asking them what ingredients went into making their baby bottles, sippy cups, dishes and eating utensils.

“I keep pushing when a company sends me a letter stating the safety of BPA, according to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration),” she said. “I tell them that’s not what I asked for. I asked what the products have in them.”

Voorhies started a blog ( www.thesoftlandingbaby.com) and posted her findings and news stories about BPA. Last year, with family members, she started selling glass baby bottles and non-BPA plastic ones online. She also writes guides on finding BPA-free products at other stores.

She and her sisters, kids in tow, take frequent field trips to Wal-Mart, Target, Babies R Us and Whole Foods to see what types of bottles, cups and dishes they are selling.

“There are still so many people who don’t know about BPA,” Voorhies said. “My whole goal is to provide information so people can make safe choices.”

We also want to take a moment to thank all of our wonderful readers for showering us constantly with your kind words and thank you’s.  We love you guys.  You make our world go ’round

P.S.  We’re redesigning our website and we’re adding all kinds of great new ways to search and learn.  We’re planning a serious launch party, so get ready for tons of new products and prizes galore!  Stay tuned - the time and date are TBA . . .

Itsabelly Announces Going Green with Baby Guide

The Itsabelly Baby Concierge has organized a wonderfully well-researched guide to help parents navigate green baby gear successfully. Going above and beyond to provide much more than a basic list of baby registry ideas, Itsabelly delivers simple steps for creating a healthy environment for baby.

Itsabelly’s Guide to Going Green with Baby is the first book to provide a simple resource for evaluating eco-friendly baby gear and to learn more about organic and natural family living. We offer mom-tested product reviews and tips to raising a healthy baby and creating a happy planet. The founders of Under the Nile, gDiapers, TheSoftLanding.com and Earth Mama Angel Baby provide insight on why choosing organic and natural baby products is important to creating a healthier lifestyle. Going Green with Baby features personal product recommendations from eco-minded moms Jennifer Lo Prete and Melissa Moog. Jennifer is a writer and mother of two that has long practiced green living. Melissa is mom to a toddler, writer and the founder of Itsabelly Baby Concierge, a premier baby planning agency that specializes in going green with baby.

A Peek Inside…

• Plan your baby registry with the best mom-tested reviews of over 300 eco-friendly baby products. We cover all your baby’s needs from slings to strollers, non-toxic bottles to safe skin care products, organic baby clothes to eco-friendly diapers and sustainable nursery furniture.
  
• Learn why going green with baby is important for a healthy baby and happy planet. Our panel of eco experts weighs in on the importance of organic apparel, sustainable wood, non-toxic feeding products and natural skin care products.
  
• Discover our simple eco-mom tips to raising a healthy baby and protecting our planet.
  
• Decipher the meaning and standards behind eco-labels. What does organic mean anyway? We make your trip to the store easier with a useful guide to common eco-labels and organic certification standards.
  
• Gain valuable tips on going green on a budget. From our own experience, it may not be financially feasible to turn your household completely organic. We give you tips on how you can make green choices that are right for your family.

Going Green with Baby will be released in the Summer of 2008. To pre-order your copy, send an email to info@itsa-belly.com or call (503)799-5719 with your name and contact information. They will contact you when the book is available for purchase.

Playtex to Discontinue Use of Bisphenol-a

ZRecs provided us with the inside scoop on Playtex. We were surprised to hear that Playtex will become one of the first major baby product manufacturers to go BPA free. As ZRecs pointed out recently, Playtex is on the record indicating its belief that polycarbonate plastics are completely safe. The company is also a member of the Coalition for Consumer Choice, a pro-BPA group.

Safe Mama announced today that Playtex has published a list of their BPA free products as a service to their concerned customers.  They will also be giving away free samples of the original Playtex Drop-ins Nurser.  Here’s the info from Safe Mama’s website:

A few of our readers have tipped us off about Playtex publishing a list of products that are BPA Free. While some of their products contain BPA and they still maintain that BPA is safe, they wanted to make sure to eliminate any confusion:

“We know recent news coverage has created significant confusion about the use of BPA in plastic baby products,” said Gary Cohen, Vice President and General Manager Playtex®, Energizer® Personal Care Division. “While US and worldwide regulatory bodies continue to deem the ingredient safe, as a leader in infant care products, we are listening to consumer concerns and we believe the right thing to do is eliminate any confusion or doubt that parents may have. For thisreason, we will stop using BPA in our products this year and we offer consumers a chance to immediately switch to BPA-free infant products.”

You can read the press release here.

The good news, is that there are quite a few products on the list that are BPA Free. The full chart is available for download as a PDF. Anyone wanting a free sample of the original Playtex Drop-Ins nurser can fill out the form available on their website. It’s that easy.

ZRecs also made some great predictions about other well-known manufacturers, such as Gerber, Dr. Brown’s and Avent. They’ve been insightful in tracking the movements of the the market so far, so we’ll be interested to see how it all plays out . . .

Everything is certainly taking shape quickly. Having a front row seat for the polycarbonate battle has been amazing for us. We’ve never experienced anything quite like the tidal wave of change caused by informed parents.

Rubbermaid Provides a Helpful List of BPA Free Products

Rubbermaid has pleasantly surprised us by publishing complete lists of both BPA free and products containing BPA.  They went the extra step and included pictures to simplify the decision-making process.

They still maintain that “BPA has been used safely in the manufacture of thousands of products for years and its use fully complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other historically stringent public health regulators in the European Union and Japan.”

A great explanation of the #7 recycling category is also offered (as we previously discussed here):

Recent news coverage has suggested that plastic containers and bottles labeled with the number “7” material identification code on the bottom contain BPA.  While all polycarbonate plastics containing BPA are labeled with the number “7” identification code, not all plastics labeled with the number “7” contain BPA.  The number “7” code is assigned to the “Other” category, which includes all plastics not otherwise assigned to categories #1-6.   The majority of Rubbermaid food and beverage containers are assigned to category number “5”, although some non-BPA containing Rubbermaid products are assigned to category”7” due to their unique combination of plastic types.

It’s great to see that parents have been able to make such an impression on many major plastics manufacturers.

Canada Initiates Ban on Bisphenol-a in Baby Bottles

Health Minister Tony Clement announced today that Canada will be the first country to ban plastic polycarbonate baby bottles after concluding the chemical is toxic. The partial ban will focus on increasing the current safety margin to decrease exposure of infants and pregnant mothers to bisphenol-a. The move is meant to be preventative and “better safe than sorry.”

They did try to sidestep the issue of the toxic chemical as it applies to adults, at least for now, by stating that most Candians need not be concerned about the health effects of BPA.

And what about infant formula cans, the other main BPA offender?

Clement said canned infant formula remains a concern, but government will work with industry to establish codes of practice to reduce the amount of bisphenol A in the linings of cans and set migration targets for the toxin.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis, health critic for the New Democrats, said this sends a confusing message to parents; the NDP welcomes a partial ban, but wants the ban to extend to all food and beverage containers with BPA, including all products designed to feed infants.

“The minister has left people in a very precarious position, claiming it’s a toxic substance, but not making a firm recommendation to parents not to use any product with bisphenol A.”

The proposed baby-bottle ban and recommendation to list bisphenol A as a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act is now subject to a 60-day public consultation period.

The Vancouver Sun reports that the plastics industry is still working to keep polycarbonate on the market. It now has two months to present any new information. If none is presented, BPA will be officially declared a toxin, and a ban of plastic baby bottles with BPA will be in place within 12 months.

In the meantime, retailers and manufactures continue to distance themselves from the chemical.

In Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart announced Friday the immediate removal of plastic baby bottles, drinking cups, bottle liners and reusable beverage containers with BPA from store shelves. Earlier this week, other retail giants took similar steps.

In the United States, Wal-Mart announced it is phasing out its BPA products in their baby aisles, and expects to only sale BPA-free baby products by early next year.

Nalgene Outdoor Products, a unit of New York-based Thermo Fisher Scientific that produces the popular water bottle Nalgene, announced Thursday it would stop using plastic because of safety concern over its key ingredient, BPA.

Smith says is the beginning of the end for bisphenol A.

“What’s going to happen here is that market forces are going to take over. We’ve already seen this in the last few days. There’s no product manufacturer on the face of this planet that is going to want to put a product that has been officially labeled as toxic in their bottles, whether it’s water bottles or baby bottles or tin cans.”

Source: Vancouver Sun “Chemicals Banned From Plastics”

Learning Your Way Around Bisphenol-a (BPA)

In breaking news, The Globe and Mail reported that Canada is expected to officially take a stance against the use of Bisphenol-a (BPA), making it the first regulatory body in the world to reach such a decision.

The conclusion by Health Canada that BPA is a possible threat, expected to be announced as early as tomorrow, will amount to one of the most important regulatory decisions regarding a single chemical in decades, and will put pressure on its counterparts at both the European Union and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reconsider their approval.

As concerned parents, we created The Soft Landing in response to the lack of information about toxic plastics in children’s products in 2007. Our goal is to take the frustration out of finding safer alternatives in feeding gear. We’ve been providing in-depth research and product guides to help parents make informed decisions ever since. We thought it would be helpful to gather our BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free Guides together in one place to make your journey through the sea of toxic plastics a little easier.

• Safer Kids Cup and Dish Guide
• Safer Pacifier Guide
• Safer Sippy Cup Guide
• Safer Baby Bottle Guide
• Safer Bath Toy Guide
• Safer Teether Guide
• BPA Free Nuby Product Guide
• BPA Free Sassy Product Guide

Each of our Guides include research we obtained by contacting each and every manufacturer listed ourselves. They provided us with detailed lists of products that are free of BPA, PVC and Phthalates. We are adding to our research daily and continually update each of our Guides to keep parents informed.

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