JPMA says Bisphenol-A is A-OK!

We just received a press release from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) that assures us that plastic baby bottles using Bisphenol-A are entirely safe, stating: "Sound and respected scientific research has consistently shown there is no danger to consumers when products are used as intended. Trace levels of bisphenol A (BPA) from consumer products are well below any level that could cause harm to adults or to our children."

This is the same JPMA that has argued against banning phlalates in toys and promoted a scare campaign against the family bed.

In case you're concerned, the press release indicates that the FDA is on the job: "The FDA has just announced the formation of an agency-wide task force to review the safety of BPA....The FDA continues to recommend that consumers refrain from discontinuing use of BPA-containing products."

This is the same FDA that's trying to track down that problem with Heparin and Chinese-made drugs. The same FDA that approved Vioxx.

For further reading, JPMA provided links to the following websites:

www.babybottle.org - Run by JPMA itself. Likely non-biased info.

www.CoalitionForConsumerChoice.org - No info is provided about who runs this site, but it's meant to appear to be a grass roots website created by consumers who want to maintain their right to buy Bisphenol-A. Domain is registered by domainsbyproxy.com, which allows its customers to set up a website anonymously. Hmmm...could this be set up by some industry trade group...?

www.bisphenol-A.org - Is a website run by a Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group, which is organized regionally at the American Chemistry Council, PlasticsEurope, and the Japan Chemical Industry Association. I'm sure these folks don't use glass bottles.

Our question---why can't an industry facing a public relations problem just fix their product and make it better instead of trying to defend something like Bisphenol-A? Huh?

Peapods Wins City Pages Best of the Twin Cities 2008

Well, it seems we did it again--best Baby Goods Store honors from City Pages. CP wrote, "do yourself a favor and find a place that cares more about your baby than its bottom line. Peapods is one of those places." That might just be the best compliment we've ever read about ourselves in print. Thanks!

We also noticed that several other locally-owned an independent businesses got top honors, including our neighbors Wet Paint Art Supplies, Avalon Gifts, Coastal Seafoods and Mississippi Market. Take a look at the Metro Independent Business Alliance to find more wonderful locally-owned businesses!

The New York Times explains Bisphenol-A

The NY Time today published a brief but informative guide about Bishenol-A and how to identify and purge it from your home. The chemical is not limited to baby bottles, but so far they've gotten most of the press, along with Nalgene bottles. If you're looking for safe baby bottles, we have glass bottles in stock from Born Free and Evenflo and Bishenol-A free polypropylene bottles from Medela.

Isabella's Story

This video from Isabella, our friend and fellow 4-H'er speaks for itself.

Thanks for Isabella and her family for sharing this. May it bring hope to families coping with autism and change to a health initiative that needs rethinking. You can read comments from others and see related video here.

Spring is finally here!

From Dan: We finally had a proper spring day today! It was windy, too, so Abby and Riley decided to make kites. The design they came up with involved string, two sticks, and a kitchen garbage bag. They worked great, so we took them to the park where there was more room.

So there was Abby and Riley, each running around Hillcrest park with beautiful billowing garbage bags, having loads of fun. Yes, those were the Peapods children--you know, from that store where they sell toys and even kites?

Well, we do have some great kites in stock right now. But sometimes there's magic in just letting your children figure something out and make it themselves. And, after a long winter, it's great to just get outside and run. Sometimes the best toys are the ones that get us out of the house on a day like today. Even if they are made from garbage bags.