Semicarbazide chemical in baby food jar lids?

[windam]

I was reading Sept 2006 article in "Alternative Medicine" magazine that said semicarbazide leaches into the food from the plastic sealing gaskets of metal lids of baby food jars. DD is 14 months and I still use some baby food (only organic, Earths Best and Organic Baby) AND I used to store and freeze breast milk in it. Has anyone heard of this? I emailed Earths Best but haven't heard back from them. Thanks

[jgriffin]

I don't know anything about the chemicals used in the lids, but I do know that the jars shouldn't be used for freezing. They are thin and could break or crack. Bell makes jars that are safe for freezing.

I wouldn't be surprised if stuff leaches from the plastic seals. It might depend on the type of baby food (e.g. something more acidic might cause more chemicals to leach).

Do you have an online link to the article, by chance?

Jen

[windam]

No I don't have a link to the article. Do you have a website for Bell to purchase the jars? thanks

[jgriffin]

Oops, that's Ball, not Bell, sorry! They spun off their glass jar business, but they're still being made.

http://www.homecanning.com/usa/ALProducts.asp?P=1410

[jgriffin]

I did a tiny bit of googling, and read that "the risk to consumers resulting from the possible presence of semicarbazide in foods - if any - is judged to be very small, not only for adults but also for infants." (NZ Food Safety Authority)

http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/food-safety-topics/chemicals-in-food/semicarbazide/index.htm

I couldn't find anything about its use or nonuse in the US. The fact that it's been banned in the manufacturing of glass jar lids in Europe, NZ, and Australia does say something, though.

[windam]

thanks!