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!

5 Tips For Grocery Shopping With Toddlers

Doing any kind of grocery shopping with a toddler can be a real challenge. But, with a little preparation and a lot of patience, it can be an enjoyable and entertaining experience. Here are some tips and tricks that work for our family.

1. Bring snacks! This is probably the number one most important thing to remember. A hungry toddler is a cranky toddler, and they get hungry often. I usually bring a plastic zipper bag full of her favorite dry cereal and a sippy cup of water. This will quite often keep her happy for most of the trip through the store.

2. If he gets restless sitting in the cart, let him down to move around for a little while. If you can bring along another adult or an older child to chase him around while you get the shopping done, by all means do so. Sometimes toddlers just need to burn off some energy.

3. Let her help! My girl loves to throw items into the basket. Of course, she will sometimes grab random things off the shelf and throw them in, but I just pull them back out when she's not looking. This leads in to tip number four:

4. Let him shop! Allow him to pick an item off the shelf and carry it around the store with you. (Just make sure it isn't breakable!) If it's something you don't want to buy, odds are he'll lose interest in it long before you reach the checkout, whereupon you can either put it back on the shelf or hand it to the cashier apologetically.

5. And finally, be careful what you offer as a means of distraction! One mom I know had a cherry slush hurled at her in the store by a grumpy toddler. The less potential for a mess there is, the better.

Shopping with little ones doesn't always have to be stressful. Believe it or not, it can even be fun!

About the Author

Teresa Kolvek and her husband, Tony, are the proud parents of a beautiful and spirited toddler named Amelia. Visit Teresa's website at https://www.toddlerdish.com for great information, tips, and recipes for toddlers.