Why Packaging Matters




Is an amber glass bottle really the best packaging option?

I hope that most of us know by now that aluminum in our deodorant is a bad thing.  Just in case you don't, here's a quick refresher… “Some scientists have suggested that using the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may be a risk factor for the development of breast cancer”(American Cancer Society, 2014).  And if that doesn't give you enough motivation... “Persons with AD, [alzheimer's disease], have been found to experience increased absorption of aluminum"(National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2001).

So if you have stopped using deodorant that contains aluminum (or you are going to stop now that you've read this), good for you!  But what about other sources of aluminum that could be just as or even more problematic?

There are many places we can consider as potential sources of aluminum.  And there's maybe no better place to start than with food packaging.  Those kraft paper zip bags and foil pouches are so commonly used for food packaging now, but when we take a look we find that they contain a metal lining.  This metal lining is what creates a moisture-proof barrier.  And when we forge a little deeper we find that this metal lining is made of "biaxially oriented PET film"(Wikipedia, n.d.) which usually contains aluminum.  Surprised that those seemingly harmless and natural earthy-looking paper pouches can contain aluminum?  

We can foil aluminum's menacing ways by stealing a better option from an ice cold frosty one, a bottle of beer! "Because it is odorless and chemically inert with virtually all food products, glass has several advantages for food-packaging applications"(Institute of Food Technologists, 2007).  And we know, amber glass has protective properties that clear glass doesn't.  There's a reason you've never seen a beer bottled in clear glass.  So if we protect our best brew with amber glass then why wouldn't we also protect our most prized and nutritious food the same way?

Another reason to choose glass is that it is a great environmental option too. "Glass is renewable and one of the only materials that can be endlessly recycled without losing strength or quality"(Dobransky, 2011).

You have choices in which packaging you choose for your green powders and other foods.  Is it really worth it to save a few bucks and get aluminum along with your precious nutrients?  I really don't think so.  If you know someone that uses a deodorant that contains aluminum, those paper or foil zipper pouches, or another risky option, please share this information with them.  

And if you're still considering something other than amber glass bottles, the kind we use to bottle Daily Green Boost, for your green powders, please let me know what I can do to help change your mind.

All the Best,

Jamie
Daily Green Boost




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References

American Cancer Society. (2014, October 14). Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer Risk The claims. Retrieved from www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk

Dobransky, M. (2011, April 8). Why Glass Comes in Different Colors - Earth911.com. Retrieved from http://earth911.com/living-well-being/events-entertainement/why-glass-comes-in-different-colors/

Institute of Food Technologists. (2007, April 1). Food Packaging -- Roles, Materials, and Environmental Issues. Retrieved from http://www.ift.org/knowledge-center/read-ift-publications/science-reports/scientific-status-summaries/food-packaging.aspx

National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2001, December). Aluminum exposure and Alzheimer's disease. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12214020