commercial baby food

[Guest guest]

This is an old post.... from 2004. This was at the end of a very heated debate

with someone who was adamant that she was going to use Earth's Best baby food.

It helps to know that Elaine was with us at the time, and had very stong

opinions (to put it mildly) about these things. So, if I sound harsh here, in my

reply, please put it in that context.

-Patti

baby food post- by Patti

You asked:

<<added sugar? I am not talking about Gerber's or other commerical

brands. I mean brands such as Organic Baby or Earth's Best, which say

right on the labels " no added sugar or sweeteners " and list vegetables and water

as the only ingredients.>>

Patti's response:

I think this is basically the same issue we're having over the juices.

Please read all the way through this and try to understand the position

some of us are in....

In terms of " official " SCD, we want to be very clear about what the rules

are, according to Elaine. Those of us that are moderating, writing for

the website, speaking at support groups or conferences or in any other

way representing SCD feel we must stick to her tried-and-true protocol of

over 45 years of experience. She has begged everyone to not use canned

foods except for the ones she lists as legal ..... and especially not

canned vegetables, including baby foods. I think if she were here on the

list right now she's probably say...... and ESPECIALLY not baby foods.

This comes from her bad experiences with some of the companies..... and

in particular, one baby food company that was involved in a lawsuit for

not labeling the additives they were putting in their products.

It may not seem fair to indict other companies for what some unscrupulous

manufacturers have done but Elaine wants to be on the safe side for the

sake of our children. It is true that companies can legally get away with

adding things and not labeling them..... as long as it's less than a

certain percentage (I think 2%?) of the total product. At least that's

the case for canned veggies.... and I assume it applies to fruits and

other canned things, and maybe other products as well. With that said, it

does NOT mean that they all WILL do so.... just because they CAN. Elaine

just feels it isn't worth the risk. She has extensive experience dealing

with food production " insiders " .... so she knows FAR more than we do.

If you have communication (in writing) from a company that states they

have not added ANYthing.... not the slightest SPECK..... and you are

comfortable with that, then that is something you should feel free to

choose to do with your own child. This entire diet is all based on our

free will to make choices. There are no SCD Police!!

However, please understand...... that AT THIS TIME, and until such time

that Elaine gives her approval, we cannot recommend to anyone else who

might be reading this list that they should then consider that product to

be legal..... I mean, they can if they want to, but WE, as spokespersons

for SCD and for Elaine, will not do it. Period.

Until we change this policy, per her instructions, there WILL NOT BE an

official " list of legal pre-made products " that is sent out by this list,

or posted on pecanbread.com.... other than the items Elaine has already

stated are legal in her book and on her website. I have to put my own

personal preferences and opinions on particular companies aside when I'm

giving someone SCD advice here on the list...... I can't endorse any

products that Elaine has not and need to discourage anyone else from

doing so.

So, it would be pointless to have any written statement from Earth's Best

or Knudsen or whoever posted to the list. If you want to post that you

have received such written communication/verification..... and if others

want to then write to you privately and perhaps have you send a

snail-mail copy to them (or contact the company themselves for the same)

that is UP TO THEM. You and anyone here on the list can make that choice

for themselves. All we ask is that you don't reply to other people on the

list in the future stating " this brand of baby food is LEGAL " (or this

juice, or this whatever). I hope you understand. We will never jump on

your and scold you for your choices.... as long as you respect our point

of view and why we have to stick to it. The only other thing that we WILL

request of you is this......

PLEASE..... If you do NOT see the results you were hoping for on SCD,

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, remove anything you're using that is not deemed

officially legal by Elaine and do her version of the diet for a while to

see if there is any improvement. Please.... promise yourself that you'll

consider doing that? I know it might seem difficult, an extra burden on

you or even nearly impossible as you look at it right now..... but down

the road, things may be quite different.

I'd like to think that the Earth's Best people are good, well-intentioned

human beings who really care...... however, I can't resist sending this

link to an article that reveals some things you might want to know about

your favorite product labels and who actually owns them (HJ Heinz owns

Earth's Best, BTW).... along with some tidbits about some of the larger

company's records on human rights around the world, environment, etc.

www.hwfc.com/CoopScoop/Apr03/suppliers.html I'm truly not meaning to bash

any company..... I have bought CASES of Earth's Best in the past (pre-SCD)

myself, and I loved the products. This article was just an eye-opener for me.

I hope you will understand the issues we have to think through in terms

of the list. It comes up frequently so I might just have to save this

post and repost it a hundred more times so I won't have to do so much

typing every time someone asks! Also, please understand that this

particular issue would be probably be handled FAR more harshly, from what

I've heard, if this were one of the other SCD lists for adults! I'm

really trying to be the kind diplomat here! :)

Patti, mom to Katera

[Guest guest]

Someone posted awhile back on this list having sent some jarred baby food to a

private lab for an analysis, and it ended up having added sucrose. Someone would

have to run a search, I don't remember all the details.

The thing is, lots of times people post that they are not making much progress

on SCD, but in fact, there are some hidden illegals and or very unbalanced kinds

of foods ie too many nut products, over reliance on juice and nut milks, too

many fruits not enough vegetables, and etc. Problems, which, with a little

trouble shooting, are easy to get on track again.

But the fact is, by eating food we do not make ourselves, if after a period of

time, we are not making enough progress or having a problem, we need to take

responsibility for all our decisions and not blame the diet.

SCD is about home-made food, because companies do not have to declare

illegals, and may even be unaware of illegals in their ingredients purchased

from other manufacturers...

At the very least, in addition to Elaine's instructions about verifying a

product, make sure you are on an even keel, having experienced some progress

already, so you can get a feel for how the food is doing you...and if a flare or

a problem happens, before blaming SCD, re-evaluate what you are eating.

I am giving this warning, as I see a tendancy in people to overlook their diet

and blame something else when something goes wrong.

Summer

Summer's Family, SCD 08/04 http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/openblooms/

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