Where are your votes going?

It's said that when you purchase a product, you are voting with your dollars.  The question I've been asking myself recently is "Am I using my whole vote?"

My family likes cereal.  It's quick, easy and a great way for us to get in whole grains.  Organic whole grain cereal and some organic milk makes for a good start to my day.  I personally love Cascadian Farm Multi Grain Squares.  I was pleased too that the Cascadian Farm cereals include Box Tops for Education.  The economy is bad and every penny helps, right?!  

I was watching TV one day when a General Mills commercial came on saying that they were the only cereal with Box Tops.  What?  No, my Cascadain Farm cereal has Box Tops too!  I went to the cabinet, pulled out my box of cereal and inspected it.  Not a single reference to General Mills, not so much as a suggestion that they could be linked.  So I hopped online and sure enough, Cascadian Farm is listed on the General Mills site.  I must say that it was even very difficult to find General Mills mentioned anywhere on the Cascadian Farm website.  Only when I looked at the small print privacy policy and terms of use pages did I find it.

Do I still buy their cereal?  Yes, I like it - I feel like it's healthy and safe for my family.  It is reasonably priced and available to me locally.  Do I wish they were more transparent?  Absolutely.  I feel mislead.  Making consumers feel as though they are supporting the little guy, when they are not, is deceptive.

So what's the big deal?  Well, for me - I'd like to know who I'm supporting.  I don't buy a lot of non-organic products because of the other ingredients they often contain: artificial colors, flavors, high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, aspartame, excessive amounts of sugar, etc.  I feel as though these ingredients (among others) are not best for a healthy diet (to put it politely).  My general feeling is that a company who knowingly uses such ingredients is not looking out for the best interest of their consumers - or the children that will consume their products.  Thus, my opinion of big companies is less than favorable, generally speaking.

I took my concerns to some friends and was somewhat shocked at what I would find out.  General Mills is not alone - by far.  I would like to thank Lili's Landing for her insight and help with the information below.  If you buy organic foods, I encourage you to browse this list.  I'm not suggesting that you boycott these brands, but I do believe that your purchases should be informed.  Consumers have a right to know where their money is going.

Before we get started, please note that the information on why some of these companies were acquired is hard to know.  A lot of sources state that details will not be released.  Financial issues for the smaller companies seems to be the general thought, as was the case with Gardenburger, which went bankrupt in 2005 and was acquired by Kellogg in 2007.  Some companies, however, seemed to welcome a larger company and believed that the larger company would keep the ideals that the brand started out with and help expand organic as a whole.

Kraft: Boca, Back to Nature.
- Boca: Acquired in February 2000. (1) (2)
- Back to Nature: Acquired in September 2003. (1)

Brynwood Partners VI L.P.: Balance Bar
- Balance Bar: Acquired by Kraft in January 2000, then acquired by Brynwood in December 2009 because it did not make enough money for Kraft. (1) (2)

Osem Group[parent company of Nestle]: Tribe Mediterranean
- Tribe Mediterranean: Acquired in September 2008. (1)

Coca Cola: Odwalla, Honest Tea
- Odwalla: Acquired in October 2001. (1) (2)
- Honest Tea: Acquired in February 2008. "Honest Tea's own acceptance of Coke's investment comes from a desire to reach a broader audience, according to CEO Goldman -- to go from being simply 'important' to acting as a 'agent of change' by leading 'a national shift toward healthier diets.' " (1)

Kellogg: Kashi, MorningStar Farms, Bear Naked, Gardenburger.
- Kashi: Acquired in June 2000. (1)
- Morningstar Farms: Acquired in October 1999. (1)
- Bear Naked: Acquired in December 2007. (1)
- Gardenburger: Acquired in December 2007. (1) (2)

Hershey's: Dagoba.
- Dagoba: Acquired in October 2006. "This is a tremendous opportunity for Dagoba," said Frederick Schilling, Dagoba's founder and CEO. "Hershey's deep commitment to quality and sustainability throughout its supply chain will help Dagoba improve and expand its mission of improving cacao farmers' livelihoods and expanding organic farming methods. This partnership will enable us to continue creating the world's most exquisite chocolate and make it available to a much broader consumer base." (1)

Dean Foods: Silk, Horizon.
- Silk: Acquired in 2001. "We are more committed than ever to our original mission of creatively leading the full integration of soy foods into the American diet," said Steve Demos, founder and president of White Wave. "By joining forces with Dean Foods, we will have more resources available to innovate, extend our brand and expand our distribution. Additionally, we believe that our principles rooted in sustainable, environmentally sensible practices have the opportunity to succeed on an even larger scale. We are anxious to move on to the next phase of our growth cycle." (1) (2)
- Horizon: Acquired in July 2003. "Chuck Marcy, president and CEO of Horizon Organic, said: 'With Dean Foods' substantial processing, distribution and marketing resources, we look forward to accelerating our growth and strengthening the leadership position of the Horizon Organic brands.' " (1) (2)

Pepsi: Naked.
- Naked: Acquired in December 2006. (1)

Smuckers: R.W. Knudsen, Santa Cruz Organic.
- R.W. Knudsen: Acquired in 1984 (according to Wikipedia - Cannot find any other information about it).
- Santa Cruz Organic: Cannot find any information on when it was acquired, just that Smuckers owns it.

General Mills: Small Planet [Cascadian Farms, Muir Glen], LaraBar.
- Small Planet [Cascadian Farms, Muir Glen]: Acquired in December 1999. "Kahn [founder of Small Planet] said yesterday he is 'overjoyed' with the General Mills deal, not just for what it brings his company ('We'll be able to choose from a menu of resources, not just financial') but for the organic foods category as a whole. 'Organics have a huge opportunity, provided we bring a more mainstream consumer proposition forward,' Kahn said. 'Becoming a part of mainstream companies like General Mills will help lift organic foods beyond a niche product and toward the industry's goal of accounting for 7 to 10 percent of total food sales in 10 years, compared with about 1.5 percent now.' " (1)
- Larabar: Acquired in June 2008. (1)

Heinz: Hain Celestial [Westsoy, Earth's Best, Westbrae, Little Bear, Arrow Head Mills, Garden of Eatin', Nile Spice, Terra Chips, MaraNatha, Yves, Veggie Cuisine, Celestial Seasonings, Health Valley, JASON, Avalon Organics, Alba Botanica, Rice Dream, Spectrum Organics]
- Hain Celestial: Acquired in September 1999 - Heinz then allowed Hain to acquire Earth's Best as part of the deal. " 'This alliance is a strategic fit with our expanding product line, and we have some of the strongest names in the natural and organic food industry with great growth opportunities internationally and domestically,' noted Irwin Simon, president and CEO of Hain."
"Additionally, Hain will acquire from Heinz the trademark and name for Earth's Best organic baby foods." (1)

M&M/Mars: Seeds of Change.
- Seeds of Change: Acquired in 1997. The founder of the company willingly sold his company and seems to still be involved with it. However, he has definitely compromised the integrity of the name - he was given a 3.5 out of 20 score from Ethical Consumer magazine, which did an article on companies who had been sold to corporations. The score before he sold? 15 out of 20.
"In 1997, Seeds of Change wanted to expand into now popular foods such as pasta and sauce. It looked around for a commercial partner and sold itself to Mars. Shapiro says what was important was Mars’ “five principles”: quality, responsibility, mutuality, efficiency and freedom — that is, freedom from public ownership."
"Mars bought Seeds of Change because it saw a future in ethical production, Shapiro says. Crucially, however, Mars had the might to put those principles into practice on a much bigger scale. 'If you’re interested in the future, scale is one of the things that’s critical,' Shapiro says. 'I’m interested in not having any hungry people in the world. I’m interested in changing the lives of as many people as possible.' (1)

Tyson: Nature's Farm.
- Nature's Farm. I can't find any articles about when/if it was acquired. I think it might just be a brand that Tyson has. Regardless, here's some information on what type of company Tyson is (and it doesn't look good). (1)

Con Agra: Alexia Foods, Lightlife Foods [Smart Dogs].
- Alexia Foods - Acquired in 2007. "Alex Dzieduszycki, Alexia Foods' president and chief executive officer, said, 'This agreement is a milestone for the Alexia brand in being able to continue our commitment to deliver premium, natural and organic products to consumers while drawing on the resources ConAgra Foods brings as a leader in the food industry.' "
- Lightlife Foods - Acquired in 2000. "Terms of the transaction were not disclosed."
"According to Chia Collins, Lightlife's co-founder and president, the merger with ConAgra 'allows us to fully expand the growth potential of our products and our people.' " (1)

Cadbury: Green and Black's.
- Green and Black's - Acquired in 2005. "Cadbury Schweppes, which acquired a minority 5% stake in the company in 2002, is to run Green & Black's as a standalone business with the same management team in place. Green & Black's founder, Craig Sams, will continue his role as president and the management team, led by CEO William Kendall and finance director Nick Beart, who acquired the majority of the business from Sams in 1999, will remain unchanged. Green & Black's commented that the deal will allow it to grow further in international markets." (1)

Danone: Stoneyfield Farms [Brown Cow].
- Stoneyfield Farms - Acquired in 2001. This statement makes it seem as though it was a deal that was sought out by the founder of Stoneyfield: "Danone's investment in fact stemmed from a failed takeover bid for the company by Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods group, which was not seen as a good fit by Stonyfield's chairman and founder Gary Hirshberg."  (1)
"Sometime soon a portion of the milk used to make that organic yogurt may be taken from a chemical-free cow in New Zealand, powdered and then shipped to the U.S. True, Stoneyfield still cleaves to its organic heritage. For Chairman and CEO Gary Hirshberg, though, shipping milk powder 9,000 miles across the planet is the price you pay to conquer the supermarket dairy aisle. 'It would be great to get all of our food within a 10-mile radius of our house,' he says. 'But once you're organic, you have to source globally.' " Ouch. I hope that all organic companies don't think like this. (1)
- Brown Cow - Acquired by Stoneyfield in 2003.  (1)

Small companies not bought out by food giants.
Eden Foods is still going strong as its own company and refuses to sell out, as is Nature's Path (family owned). Organic Valley has gotten larger, but it is still a cooperative of family farms and is not owned by a massive company. There are others that are still on their own too, as far as I know - Amy's, AppleGate Farms, Columbia Gorge & Nature's Path (EnviroKidz).

Cleaners: Ingredients to Avoid

This is part of our Easy Lists guide.  Please check out our others here.

First I would like to say that avoiding harmful ingredients can be hard.  Most of the cleaning products that I have seen don't list ingredients.  That, to me, is a first clue that it's not something you want to use.  It may not always hold true, so here are a few other warning signs before we get to the ingredients.

Don't be fooled by labels and wording!
Labels like Environmentally Friendly, Natural, Nontoxic & Biodegradable can be misleading. It's a great place to start when looking for cleaners, but verify it! Be sure that you know what's in the product and that there is nothing unsafe.

Natural is the one that I personally find to be the most misleading. Natural seems safe when you hear it, but there are SO many things in nature are very dangerous. Again, just be sure to know what's in these products.

Avoid products that tell you they are dangerous!
There are a whole lot of products that tell you right on the bottle/box/etc. that they are dangerous.  Listen to them and stay away! Look for terms like (but not limited to): Caution, Corrosive, Danger, Irritant, Poison, or Warning.

I recently read on a popular eco-friendly cleaner that if swallowed "drink plenty of water".  I thought that was great.  No "call poison control", panic, etc.  Good sign!

Ingredients to Avoid
There are so many ingredients to avoid. I'm going to try to list some common ones and try to explain a little about why you should avoid them.

Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs)
These are surfactants and suspected hormone disruptors.

Ammonia
Poisonous when swallowed, can burn skin on contact and is also extremely irritating when inhaled. I remember my Mom using this stuff as a kid and man, it is some seriously strong stuff.

Antibacterials & Disinfectants
These are a bit complicated as it includes a whole list of ingredients from Bleach to Triclosan. Many have concerns over the effect and cause these have on antibiotic resistant bacteria. Simple cleaners (even soap and water) are often enough to take care of the concerns that consumers would buy these products for anyhow.  Don't underestimate soap and water!

Butyl Cellosolve (also known as butyl glycol, ethylene glycol, monobutyl)
This is common in most cleaners (all-purpose, window, etc.). Dangerous to the nervous system, liver, kidneys. Poisonous if swallowed and irritating when inhaled.

Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
Bleach is very obviously strong, corrosive and irritating to both the eyes and lungs.

Glycol Ethers   (ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether, EGBE or 2-Butoxyethanol)
This is a solvent and pops up in glass cleaners, all-purpose cleaners and more. They are irritating and can cause headaches and like symptoms. I have also read that they are also linked to lowered sperm counts and reduced fertility

Monoethanolamine (MEA) Diethanolamine (DEA) & triethanolamine (TEA).
Surfactants. Suspected to affect hormones and produce carcinogenic nitrates and nitrosamines. Can cause eye and skin irritation, as well as other allergic reactions.

Petroleum Solvents
Solvents in floor cleaners damage mucous membranes. Many ingredients are derived from petroleum, including some of those above such as APEs and naptha, and they’re commonly found in many cleaning products as surfactants. Other toxic ingredients derived from petroleum, including formaldehyde, can also be present at trace levels in cleaning products. Found in a variety of household cleaners.

Naptha is not found in the soap Fels Naptha (which is used in the homemade laundry detergent recipe).

Phenols
Phenols are found in disinfectants and are toxic to respiratory and circulatory systems.

Phosphates
These can get into waterways and contribute to the growth of algae and other water weeds.  This can be very harmful to fish and other aquatic life.  These are often found in laundry detergents and dish detergents.

Phthalates (Fragrances)
Phthalates are hormone disruptors found as components of synthetic fragrances.  These are in SO many things.  These are linked to issues with obesity, reproductive development and more.  I highly recommend avoiding products that contain artificial scents.  Look for unscented, fragrance free or natural fragrance.  Some products now say "Phthalate Free" or mention the use of essential oils for scent.  Those are great choices.

Triclosan
This is found in antibacterial cleaners. I have actually heard some recent studies on this.  Not good stuff.  Look for “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial" as most products won't say that it has it in it.

There are more, but this is a start :)

Now let's talk a little about what THINGS TO USE!

Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used for a whole host of household chores.  Combine it with a little water to scrub up just about anything.  Add to vinegar (carefully, it gets very fizzy!) for some super strength  to clean tile, pots and pans, carpet, tubs, toilets, etc.

Borax
Borax is a water softener and sanitizer. It is a great laundry additive.  I have also used it to help clean my toilets.  You can find this in the laundry isle at most stores.

A recent article by EWG cautions the use of borax for cleaning in the home noting that toddlers and young children face special risks from hand-to-mouth transfer of carpet or crack and crevice, dust or spray borax treatments. I would recommend not using borax as a general home cleaner - any cleaner (aside from pure water) used for these purposes will leave a residue.  I feel comfortable using the minuscule amount in my DIY detergent. It is not used on open surfaces and is washed out during the rinse cycle.

You can read a bit more on this debate here - there are some great points of view in the comments.

Castile Soap
Castile soap is a gentle soap made from vegetable oil (often olive) as opposed to animal fat or synthetics.  This stuff is great for just about everything.

Lemon Juice
My mother raves about lemon juice's ability to remove stains.  It is great in cleaners.  It helps cut grease and the scent is divine.

Washing Soda
Washing soda is similar to baking soda but stronger.  It is a great laundry additive and can be found in the laundry isle.  This one can be a bit harder to locate, but is well worth it :)

White Vinegar
Vinegar is good for just about everything.  Mix up your own all-pupose and glass cleaners.  Add it to your laundry in the rinse cycle for a great fabric softener.  Even put it in your dishwasher's rinse aid compartment.

If making your own cleaners isn't your thing consider these brands:
Seventh Generation
Mrs. Meyers
Method
Biokleen
Ecover
Clorox Green Works
Simple Green
Martha Stewart Clean

Personal Care Products: Ingredients to Avoid

When it comes to products, it's hard to know what's safe, what's not, what to buy, what not to buy, etc.

I thought I would do a little research and put together a short list of things to avoid in products. This is by no means a complete list, but at least some of the worst offenders to avoid. I hope you find this helpful. Happy shopping!

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate - Often called SLS
SLS is a surfactant. It is often used for it's ability to lather and remove oils. It can be found in so many personal care products: Shampoos, Toothpastes, Body Wash, Shaving Cream, etc. It can also be found in Engine Degreasers, Household Cleaners, Car Wash Soap, etc. It can cause skin and eye irritation.

Parabens - Methyl, Ethyl, Butyl and Propyl Parabens (keep an eye out for anything ending in -paraben, there are lots!)
Parabens are used as preservatives in personal care products. There is some concern that these chemicals are carcinogenic, especially in breast tissue. They have also been found to mimic estrogen, again being found in breast cancer tumor samples.

Propylene Glycol - Also keep an eye out for Polyethylene Glycol and Polypropylene Glycol
Used as a surfactant and helps break down oils. Also a thickening agent. Known to cause rashes and dry skin. Also an ingredient in oven cleaners and antifreeze.

Phthalates - Look for "fragrance" DBP (Di-n-butyl Phthalate), DEP (Diethyl Phthalate) and BzBP (Benxylbutyl Phthalate)
These are hormone disrupting chemicals, often shown simply as "fragrance". Try to find products that you know use natural fragrances, or say so on the label. Can also cause nausea and headaches.

Cocamide DEA, MEA and TEA - Diethanolamine, Momoethanolamine and Triethanolamine
Often used as a emulsifiers and/or a foaming agent. Suspected to affect hormones and produce carcinogenic nitrates and nitrosamines. Can cause eye and skin irritation, as well as other allergic reactions.

Diazolidyinyl Urea, Imidazolindinyl Urea, DMDM Hydantoin and Quaternium-15
Preservatives like Parabens. Can cause skin irritation, migraines and allergic reactions. Release formaldehyde (known carcinogen).

FD&C , D&C Color followed by a number - Synthetic Colors
Used simply for appearance, along with synthetic hair dyes. Many are carcinogenic.

Talc
Probable carcinogen. Shown to cause tumors. Related to carcinogenic asbestos.

Petrolium - Petroleum Jelly
Mineral oil, derived from crude oil. Interferes with the skin's ability to breathe. Can lead to dryness and chapping.

Toluene
Solvent used in nail polishes. Known to cause damage to the liver, kidneys and nervous system.

*If you think there is something that should be on this list, please feel free to comment or email me :)*

There are lots of great resources to check your products and ingredients. For a more indepth look at these things, please check out the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database.