FDA Finds Lead in Women's and Children's Vitamins

Today The Daily Green reported that recent testing by the FDA found trace amounts of lead in women's and children's vitamins. Lead is very hazardous to pregnant women, fetuses and children (particularly to those developing under the age of 6). Lead is known to cause brain damage, learning disabilities and limited IQ.

The FDA vitamin research covered 324 multi-vitamin products and only 4 were lead-free. However, I find it interesting that the article states the FDA does not consider any of these products unsafe. The government just enacted legislation banning lead in children/infant toys and products, yet they are allowing varying amounts of lead in vitamins that we eat... this just doesn't make any sense.

Some of the vitamins listed included: My First Flintstones (Tablet/Capsule), Flintstones Plus Immunity Support (Tablet/Capsule), GNC Mega Teen (Tablet/Capsule), Nature's Sunshine Nature's Prenatal (Tablet/Capsule), Viactiv Multivitamin Milk Chocolate (Candy-like) and more. Click here for the complete listing and details.

I try to make healthy choices for my family including organic food as much as possible, whole grains in our diet, less refined sugars and natural, safe, non-toxic women's and children's vitamins. Unfortunately our children can be harmed from unseen hazards as much or more than the traditional things we work so hard to protect them from. In my opinion, there isn't a safe level of lead in any product - especially one used by children.

Local Farmer's Markets

My Niece has been in town for the weekend and I have been showing her some local flavor. Friday night we went to the Organic Farmer's Market at Trader's Point Creamery. We picked up some home-made salsa, flat green and yellow beans, tomatoes and cucumbers from various vendors. Then, my niece selected two wines from New Day Meadery, a local Meadery in Elwood. I purchased one of their dry wines (red raspberry I believe) a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. Then yesterday we went to the Noblesville Farmer's Market for local corn, peaches and more tomatoes to make our own salsa. I learned that heirloom tomatoes do not last as long as other varieties (I left a few out last night and they had to be used today before they went bad). I love this time of year when there is so much to choose from at the local markets. I also appreciate the effort by the Noblesville market to require all vendors to grow at least 50% of what they sell. It has become a weekend tradition for my family and we enjoy supporting our favorite local growers and appreciate their efforts to be environmentally friendly and organic. It is a win-win for everyone.

We had a great weekend and enjoyed the local flavor of both the town and local food.

Bush Signs Product Safety Bill

Yesterday President Bush signed product safety reform legislation into law. This is a major win for parents and families across the country as it will require comprehensive changes in manufacturing practices - requiring that toys and infant products are tested for safety before they are sold to consumers.

The Consumer Reports blog announced yesterday that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 is the most significant change to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) since it was created in the 1970's. The groundbreaking law will ban lead and phthalates in toys, require the CPSC to set up a consumer product safety database and give the CPSC the resources to protect consumers and go after those in violation of the law.

Over the last several years of recalls and recent consumer concern over phthalates, consumer advocacy groups have been keeping the safety of children in the public eye. Thank you to everyone involved in pushing this legislation and to Congress for putting children first.

New Orleans Revitalization

I just returned from a business conference in New Orleans. I am a Shaklee Distributor and our company selected New Orleans to help promote business in and around the city and give back to the community. I was touched by the people we met who were so appreciative of our business and efforts! I met a family who is still experiencing health concerns from the environmental effects they were exposed to during and after Katrina and a green builder who is working there to help rebuild homes in a safe environmentally friendly way. There are many companies and individuals who continue to give back to the New Orleans area and I feel fortunate to have been a small part of that this past week.

Freecycle - Way Cool!

A few months ago, I was introduced to Freecycle and I must say... it is pretty cool. Freecycle was started in Tucson, Arizona in 2003 by Deron Beal using the Internet to connect people who have stuff to give away with others in their local area. The idea is pretty clever! We all have things packed away in closets, attics and the garage that we don't need. Freecycle provides a way to keep unwanted items that still have good life out of the landfill and everything must be FREE with no strings attached. I signed up for my local group and so far I have not been the beneficiary of any used treasures; however, I have shared my own unwanted items with other local Freecycler's including: sidewalk pavers, children's toys, books, etc.

You can find a local Freecycle group near you by visiting http://www.freecycle.org/ . Begin sharing some of your own unwanted treasures and perhaps you will find something online you can't live without.

Good luck and please share your treasure stories.

Indianapolis Zoo Partners with Lowes to help Polar Bears

We have family in from Michigan and we wanted to take the kids somewhere fun in Indy and where else but the Indianapolis Children's Museum and Indianapolis Zoo . Our family has been to the Indy Zoo many times but on this visit I noticed something new. You might expect me to say it's the redesigned Oceans Exhibit where you can get up close and personal and touch a whole school of bonnethead shark pups or the unique opportunity to see the koala bears this summer. But while my children were elbow deep in the shark pool and pressed up to the glass watching the polar bears, I was reading numerous educational posters about conservation. Next to the polar bear area, there is a large poster about how polar bears are in danger, how our actions have impacted them and changes we can make. I was also excited to find recycling bins - a rare find in Indy. My family used to tease me because I often take home bottles to recycle when I am out and about but now it is just what we do. To be honest, I am not certain if this is something new the Zoo is promoting or if it is just that I am more in tune and looking for things that are "green" (like when you get a new car and all of a sudden you see that same car everywhere you go). Either way, I love the message it sends to my children and others.

The Indianapolis Zoo has created a new program My Carbon Pledge in partnership with Lowes. Their goal is to change one million incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs in the state of Indiana in 2008. If you live in Indiana, sign in and make your pledge to help the polar bears and us. By the way, we have changed most of our light bulbs already but I pledged 10 more. How many are you pledging?

Family visit to Traders Point Creamery

Last weekend we took a family visit to Traders Point Creamery, an organic dairy, in Zionsville, Indiana. I learned about the the organic farm from Indiana Living Green, a local green magazine but my husband was told they produce the best chocolate milk and so we had to take a visit to the farm. We were too late to have lunch at the loft restaurant, however, we all enjoyed milk shakes, ice-cream and a berry shortcake made with the homemade ice-cream - everything was outstanding!

Unfortunately it was still a bit muddy so we didn't take a tour, but we did walk around and watched as they brought in the cows for their daily milking which we were allowed to watch up close. We all had a great visit and it was educational for the kids to learn where milk comes from and that milk is used to make cheese, yogurt and ice-cream (all available to take home - including white and chocolate milk... and yes, the chocolate milk is awesome).

We plan to go back for the tour on an upcoming Friday night so we can have dinner outside and visit the Organic Farmers Market which runs from 4-8 pm. If you plan to visit, tours start at 4 and 5:30 during the Summer selling season on Friday nights. Dinner is served outside from 5-8 pm.

Some Traders Point dairy products are available in the Central Indiana Region and through online ordering.