Fun fact: not all low tox products are created equal. I didn’t realise this until I started researching new products to buy for our bub. While most low tox advocates recommended using silicone or stainless steel over plastic items, not all silicone and stainless steel is high quality!
Some things I’ve learned recently…
Silicone. This is a fan favourite for buying baby feeding products. You find countless baby brands that brag about using food grade silicone material. However there are two version available on the market.
- FDA approved silicone – this is the bare minimum quality for US and Australia brands. Many Aussie brands use this (including silicone feeding items sold in major baby stores like Baby Village). This is probably “good enough” – better than plastic but not ideal.
- “The LFBG (Lebensmittel-, Bedarfsgegenstände-und Futtermittelgesetzbuch, or “Foods, Consumer Goods and Feedstuffs Code”) is sometimes thought to be the European equivalent of the FDA. LFGB is a European certification process, more comprehensive and strict than FDA certification. When possible, purchase this version of silicone. Some brands I found that use this level of silicone include: We Might Be Tiny, Weinmeister, Thermomix, Mushie (had to email to confirm).
- Almost all brands say their products are “food grade silicone free of nasties” but since almost all of these are manufactured in China, it is more important to use LFGB regulated products. Check the FAQ of the brand or email them directly to ask.
- Interesting anecdotal feedback from other low tox moms – some silicone products start to taste like the detergent used to clean (hand wash or machine wash), which means bub will be tasting soap! To avoid this, it was recommended to clean silicone items with Dr. Bronner’s Fragrance Free Soap.
Stainless Steel. A fan favourite for low tox consumers, always start by upgrading your cookware and bakeware to stainless steel. A few cheat sheet recommendations below:
- 18/10 stainless steel is higher quality vs 18/8 (less likely to rust). The stainless steel pans are 18/10 from Myer bought on sale. Some sample products bakeware and cookware that are 18/10.
- 304 stainless steel is chemically the same as 18/8 (304 is a more general grade). So by comparison, 18/10 is more durable than 304.
Bringing it all together. When shopping around, be conscious of the material quality! Here’s a sample of similar options of the same product but with varied quality. We’re shopping around for stainless steel bowls with a lid (as an alternative to a silicone bowl for bub’s first meals):
- 304 stainless steel with FDA approved silicone lids
- 18/8 stainless steel with plastic (!) lids (sold from a reputable low tox store)
- 304 stainless steel with food grade silicone lids (need to email to clarify if this is FDA approved or LFGB approved)
TLDR: shop around.
- Low tox materials are not created equally.
- Not all products sold on your go-to websites which sell trusted low tox brands are the highest quality possible.
- Avoid buying materials from affordable stores like Kmart. Just because they mention silicone or stainless steel doesn’t mean it’s good quality. They can manufacture these products with materials exposed to bad chemicals if not regulated.
Methodical Millennial 
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