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Are
All Plastics Bad?
We have
encountered some misinformation that we think consumers should
be aware of. A couple of our competitor websites are saying that liquid
supplements bottled in plastics are absorbing the toxins from
the plastic, and these toxins are then being ingested by
unknowing consumers. This is simply false, inaccurate,
irresponsible, and clearly uninformed.
And
here's why in a nutshell:
Dangerous and
harmful plastic containers are made of polycarbonate, or
polyvinyl chloride, and contain an additive called Bisphenol A (BPA).
But not all plastics contain BPA.
There is another class of plastic, used specifically for
consumables, which are made of entirely different components,
all of which are non-toxic. This non-toxic type of plastic
is called HDPE. You can be certain that no toxins
will ever be leached from these types of bottles because no
toxic materials are contained in their composition.
HDPE
is the type of bottles used for all Vital Earth's
liquid supplements, as well as 90% of all health food store
products. This is not new. Reputable manufacturers have been
protecting consumers against harmful BPA for years now. To
repeat, there is no BPA in our bottles. If any other
manufacturer disputes this information, please ask them to show
you the specific scientific studies that show Bisphenol-A,
polycarbonate, or polyvinyl chloride is in HDPE bottles.
To tell consumers that all plastics are alike is irresponsible.
This mis-information either comes from being mis-informed or
there is an ulterior motive based on using fear to sell their
products when they don't have any other marketable benefits.
About
Vital Earth's bottles:
The specific type of
bottles Vital Earth uses are made of an organic composition, are
certified by the FDA, and are approved under the OSHA Hazard
Communication Standard. They do NOT contain BPA (Bisphenol-A),
and are not made from polycarbonate, polystyrene, phthalates, or
polyvinyl chloride.
Vital Earth
Minerals' bottles are HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene);
they are
recommended by The Green Guide, and are certified safe and
guaranteed NOT to transfer anything toxic into the product
because they don't contain anything toxic. In fact the Green
Guide even recommends HDPE for baby bottles - that's how safe
they are.
In
independent lab tests done by certified facilities, HDPE has
passed rigorous testing using acid leaching agents, in extreme
high heat conditions. HDPE was found to be so non-reactive that
no chemicals, toxins, or foreign materials whatsoever, in any
form, were detected in the contents of the bottle. This isn't
surprising since the composition of the bottle does not contain
any of these things.
How does a manufacturer know the composition
of the bottles they buy?
Before any respectable manufacturer ever purchases a single
bottle they scrutinize the bottle manufacturer's "Material
Safety Data Sheet". This is a legal certification of the
physical/chemical properties, human health data, exposure
controls, handling and storage, materials stability and
reactivity, toxicological information, regulatory information
and more. From this and other information we know exactly what
our bottle is composed of, the certifications it carries, and
the rigorous tests that were performed on it that guarantee its
safety.
How does a manufacturer decide which
type of plastic to use for their product?
The choice of
which type of plastic is used for a consumable product is based
on whether it will have a one-time use, multiple use, (like
storage containers), whether it will be heated and how hot the
plastic may get, the properties of the specific food coming in
contact with the plastic (acidic tomatoes for example), how long
the food will be in stored in the plastic, etc. Health and
safety conscious manufacturers will most certainly evaluate
their product and select the safest possible option.
How
safe are HDPE bottles? Very!
A person
would have a difficult, if not impossible, time finding any
concrete, scientific, documented evidence that HDPE
bottles pose any risk at all - because they are safe. They come
from technology developed specifically to deal with the issue of
transference of toxins from the bottle to the consumable product
it contains. Rigorous documented
testing of HDPE bottles under the most extreme
circumstances has proved this again and again. HDPE
bottles are made from polyethylene, or polypropylene, NOT
polycarbonate.
A crash course on the different types of
plastics:
Clearly, the concern over dangerous plastics centers mainly
around the additive Bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in the
production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It can be
found in hard plastics like toys, disposable silverware,
styrofoam products, (egg cartons), food storage containers,
clear plastic and reusable drink bottles, and the white enamel
lining of cans used for foods such as
tomatoes, pumpkin,
beets, and more. It's true that
it is used extensively, and that it should absolutely be
avoided.
BPA (Bisphenol A) has been linked to breast,
prostate, and uterine cancer, decreased testosterone, Type II
Diabetes, Attention Deficit Disorder, and more. Federal health
agencies have found that 95% of people tested had levels of BPA
in their system. (This is exactly why having a strong immune
system is so important)
BPA is a class of chemicals known as
endocrine-disruptors. It mimics the naturally occurring hormone estrogen, and
alters the normal function of genes. It is also linked to the early onset of
puberty in girls, obesity and behavioral problems. It is thought to be the
cause of serious reproductive disorders. There is a massive amount of
information available on the internet about BPA. It is clearly proven to
be very dangerous to human health and should never come in contact with anything
a human might consume. But, it’s not a perfect world... unfortunately,
products containing BPA are still widely sold.
How to identify harmful plastics
The easiest
way to identify the type of plastic is to look for the recycling
symbol and/or the alphabetic designation stamped on the bottom
of the container.
The recycling symbol is located on the
bottom of containers. It is a small triangle that has a number stamped
inside the triangle. The number tells you what type of plastic it is.
Some bottles, such as the one Vital Earth Minerals uses, also have an alphabetic
designation. For example, Vital Earth’s bottles say “HDPE”. Once you
learn which plastics are which, with a glance at the recycling
symbol, or the alphabetic designation on the bottom of the
container, you can easily limit your exposure to BPA by simply
not using them.
If there is nothing stamped on the
bottom of the bottle, then we suggest you don't buy it - it's anybody's guess
what it's made of. And, NEVER use plastics in an unsafe way, such as
refilling a #1 recyclable bottle, which are designed to be used only once.
Learn these Recycling Numbers:
Worst
Plastics: (Contains BPA (Bisphenol A) which can be leached into the
consumable product)
#3 Recycling symbol: Polyvinyl chloride (vinyl or PVC) - (generally not
recyclable)
#6 Recycling symbol: Polystyrene
#7 Recycling symbol: (Polycarbonate)
Mediocre
Plastic: (contains BPA which is released over time)
#1 Recycling symbol– Designed for one-time use only.
Also labeled as PETE (Polyethyl Tetra Ethelene)
This is the type of bottle that water is usually sold in. Do not refill
this bottle - the chemical bond breaks down over time, and then can
transfer BPA into the liquid. Many people who are concerned about the
environmental impact of using a bottle only once and then throwing it away will
refill #1 bottles. We don’t recommend this because over time, as they are
tumbled around in your car, become dented, etc. BPA is released. We
suggest you avoid buying #1 bottles whenever possible, and switch to refillable
stainless steel or glass bottles, a much better alternative for both you and the
environment.
Safe Plastic:
(made from safe, polyethylene, or polypropylene)
#2 Recycling symbol: (HDPE- High Density Polyethylene)
#4 Recycling symbol: (LDPE-Low Density Polyethylene)
#5 Recycling symbol: (Polypropylene)
How to get the
most harmful plastics out of your life:
- Switch to a
stainless steel or glass refillable water bottle for
personal use
- Use glass or
ceramic storage and heating contains in your kitchen,
instead of plastics.
- Avoid all
clear, hard shell plastic reusable containers, including the
big 5 gal. bottles that sit on water dispensers, unless you
check with the supplier to make sure they’re BPA free.
- Never feed
your baby from a plastic baby bottle, unless it's made from
plastics that don't leach BPA, like polypropylene or
polyethylene (HDPE). Or, switch to glass or stainless
steel.
Don't take our word for it ...
Learn the facts yourself and make the best choices
And by "facts" we mean scientific data from reputable current studies, respected
researchers, government agencies and industry experts. If a web site is warning
you about some terrible danger but doesn't give you specifics, and directs you
to articles and studies that are several years old, or articles that only relate
to their scare topic in a vague way - and they are suggesting that you buy their
product instead...let this be a RED FLAG warning to you. If a manufacturer
has a valid product benefit they shouldn't have to scare you to make their
point.
We fully acknowledge that priceless
information can be gleaned from the opinions and experiences of " real people"
who reveal their life experiences to help others. But at the same time, for
every compelling and useful real life experience, there are dozens of self
promoting hucksters, or charlatans out there with a personal agenda. With
that in mind, we suggest that you simply look at the facts and decide for
yourself.
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Everybody is
exposed to toxins...
Everybody is exposed to
environmental toxins in one form or another...
Let's face it, we live in a world where we're surrounded by chemical toxins of
some form or another. They are in our clothing, carpet, furniture, foods, and
just about everywhere. Whatever toxins you do inevitably pick up from your
environment, and the many harmful plastics we are surrounded by, remember that
it's the people who have the strong immune systems who are least affected.
If you consciously limit your exposure
to harmful substances, live a healthy lifestyle, drink pure water, eat
unprocessed food, and supply your body with the nutrients it needs to maintain
strong cells, it's likely your body will easily fight off whatever challenges it
encounters.
How can you help do this?
Don't forget that fulvic is one of the most powerful substances you can provide
for your body to boost immune system function, build healthy strong cells, flush
toxins from your body, and help fight the dangerous effects of the harmful
plastics, chemicals and the many food additives we encounter daily.
Learn About Vital Earth's Fulvic
More Plastics info :
(http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2001_Jan/ai_70777248/pg_1
The health
dangers of reusing plastic bottles and bags:
http://www.ewg.org/node/25991
http://themangolds.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/the-dangers-of-using-plastic-for-our-food-and-water/ |
