Lead in children's juice boxes.

According to a recent news letter from Delicious Living Magazine, the Enviromental Law Foundation has found lead in a variety of children's juice box drinks, baby food, and fruit cocktail.  Why can't we just have safe and healthy food?  This is sad that we should even have to worry about this. Thats just this Momma's opinion though. 

Here is the article: 

Toxic news: Lead found in children’s juice boxes

Susan Esrey June 15th, 2010

According to a report filed by the Oakland-based Environmental Law Foundation (ELF), the toxic chemical lead has been found in a variety of children’s and baby foods, including apple juice, grape juice, packaged pears and peaches (including baby food), and fruit cocktail.

ELF tested scores of brands and found that just one serving of several of the products would put children age six and younger over the daily limit for lead. Specifically, for the tainted products, one or more samples exceeded California’s Prop. 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving.

About 85 percent of products tested had high levels of lead, including organic products.

Products with excess lead included:

Gerber 100% Juice Apple Juice

Earth’s Best Organics Apple Juice

O Organics Organic Grape Juice from concentrate

R.W. Knudsen Organic Just Concord

Del Monte Diced Pears in Light Syrup

Gerber 3rd Foods Peaches [Baby Food]

Safeway Lite Fruit Cocktail in Pear Juice

Products that tested under the limits included:

Eating Right Kids Diced Peaches in Extra Light Syrup

R.W. Knudsen Organic Apple Juice unfiltered

Tree Top 100% Apple Juice.

Experts agree that there is no safe level for lead exposure. The toxic chemical accumulates in the body from every exposure over time. “Lead exposure among children is a particular concern because their developing bodies absorb lead at a higher rate and because children are particularly sensitive to lead’s toxic effects, including decreased IQ,” said toxicologist Barbara G. Callahan, PhD, DABT, of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in ELF’s press release. According to the group, lead has been and continues to be released into the environment from decades of lead-based pesticide application, use of leaded gasoline and lead paint, and burning of coal in power plants.

ELF has previously found balsamic vinegar samples to have excessive lead levels. Spectrum Organics responded to that lawsuit by stating lead was naturally occurring in soils in the Modena region of Italy, where most balsamics come from. Spectrums’s website also said, “Based on the Company’s tests, a person would need to consume somewhere between 1.3-2.6 cups (270-630ml) daily of the Company’s various vinegar products to reach the Proposition 65 lead level.”

Baby food making products

A list of things you'll need to get started making your own baby food:

1) Food processor (I bought mine at Mother Nurture Their merchandise part of their site is down at the moment but you can call and order it. cottonbabies.com is a good place to buy it as well.)

2) Food storage cubes or containers (BPA free)

3) Access to organic produce, Our Kroger in Winchester, Ky has a great selection.

4) Super Baby Food book (click the book in the sidebar and it will take you to the books website so you can purchase it.)

Hope this has been helpful! Let me know if you have any questions. :)

Christmas

When our son, Levon, was born we decided early on that we didn't want Christmas to be about him getting a truck load of gifts. We wanted Christmas to be more about him giving things to others. So, we made a rule that for every toy he gets he has to give one of his other toys away. Since Levon is only a year old this decision is left up to his daddy and me. For now we will be giving his old toys to kids who we think will enjoy them as much as he has. I hope this is a tradition we can keep doing, I think it's a good one.