The Most Recent Baby Food Recalls

We have all been horrified by the latest toxic pet food scare and just even thinking about it has got me thinking about baby food recalls. Just for your interest I decided to compile a list of the most recent baby food recalls just in case you happen to have a jar of the offending baby food sitting on your shelf.

February 16th 1997 – This recall was for Earth's Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast Baby Food. This batch of baby food was infected with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a life-threatening illness. The affected baby food was sold in single jars and 4-jar variety packs. It is part of the Earth’s Best 2nd Vegetables, Fruits and Blends line, which is made for babies over 6 months old. If you think you might have a jar of this contact Hain Celestial Group at 800-434-4246 for more information.

September 16th 2006 – This recall was for Similac Advance and Similac Alimentum Advance Baby Formula. This was a huge recall where about 3,00,000 bottles of Similac Alimentum and Similac Advance baby formula were recalled because the bottles were manufactured without a special plastic layering that keeps oxygen out of it. The problem with this is that when oxygen contacts this type of formula it reduces the Vitamin C in it. Vitamin C deficiency occurs rapidly in babies.

Once again if you have kept this on the shelf you might want to look at the lot numbers. The two brands affected are Similac Advance with Iron – stock code 55961, lot numbers 40177RH or 40172RH. The use-by se-by date is Nov. 1, 2007.
Similac Alimentum Advance – stock code 57512, lot number 401895V. The use-by date is May 1, 2007.March 16th, 2006. This recall was indirectly related to babies, toddlers and children. This was a recall of Walgreens Iron Supplements because thousands of bottles were issued without childproof packaging. Unfortunately these iron supplements look at taste like candy and an overdose could cause liver damage, coma and death in children. If you have a bottle of this still and have questions you can call Inverness who makes the product at 888-698-5032.

Feb 15th 2005. This recall was also for Similac Baby formula, specifically Similac Advance with Iron. This time the problem was that the 12.0 oz. cans were not made correctly and a manufacturing malfunction created a product where there was plastic debris at the bottom of the can. This of course was a serious choking hazard.

In the next blog I will try and keep you informed about the latest baby products recalls so that we can keep our dear ones safe and sound. Remember too that if you ever suspect that anything is wrong with a food product meant for children contact the manufacturer and the FDA immediately! These things are almost always caught by the public and not the maker of the product or any kind of quality control practitioners. When it comes to quality control – you are it!

Parenting Tips
, , , , , , , ,

Keep Kids Hydrated with Popsicles

Keep Kids Hydrated With Popsicles

Sometimes I worry that I can't get my kids to consume what should be about four or five glasses of water a day. Keeping hydrated is just as important for little bodies as it is adults. This is especially important to think about in the near future as scientists are predicting one of the hottest summers on record this year.

It's hard for adults to sit there and drink their full eight glasses of day so how do you convince a fussy toddler or 'busy' six year old to drink up to five or six glasses a day. Then it occurred to me that the answer is probably – popsicles.

My kids love popsicles and the more brightly colored they are, the better!

Of course, not just any Popsicle will do here. It has to be made from more than just sugar and water like the commercial popsicles are. They have to be nutritious.

One of the most nutritious popsicles I could think of would be ones made with fruit juice and milk swirled together to make a healthy version of a Creamsicle. Of course there are also all kinds of vitamin enriched juices on the market that make a delicious homemade Popsicle as well. An interesting idea might be to try making popsicles with vitamin enriched waters, which are also now readily available in supermarkets.

On super hot days you can prevent your child from become dehydrated by making frozen treats out of Gatorade. Making old fashioned home made lemonade and adding a dash of salt to it can also help your child from becoming overheated and also supply a generous dose of Vitamin C.

Almost no kid can resist a homemade frozen treat that is made with Jello. The great thing about Jello powder is that it is not too sweet and that you can use less than the package indicated to make those brightly colored popsicles that children find so attractive. You can also make delicious low fat popsicles using the chocolate Jello powder. They will be especially nourishing if you use whole milk.

You can buy all kinds of plastic molds that can be used to make your own popsicles at places like Wal-Mart or Zellers and sometimes you can even get them in a grocery store. The key is to get a durable set that is not made of plastic that is too soft because kids love to chew on the 'stems' of the Popsicle handles. Try to get the kind that has a handle with a large beveled bowl where the Popsicle attaches to the stick to prevent drips. Wooden Popsicle sticks are not such a hot idea as littler kids like to chew on them and this can cause splintering and possible injury to the tongue.

Not that this tip has much to do with hydration but while we are on the topic of frozen treats, a frozen banana is a healthy treat to give a toddler. Not only is it nutritious but also gnawing on it can ease the pain of teeth that are coming in.

Parenting Tips
, , , , , , ,