Comments on: Canning Food for the Winter is Plastic-Free — Except for the Jar Lids!

By: Get Real About Risks

Get Real About Risks — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:59:24 +0000

The miniscule risk of health problems in the distant future from BPA or the 10-30% death rate from botulinism.

Yep, sure is a hard choice to make.

By: Vix

Vix — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:00:45 +0000

Samantha, you could also get a Berkley water filter. It’s portable, wonderful, and doesn’t require electricity or installation. Scroll down a little on this site to read about this awesome creature!

http://www.disasterstuff.com/store/pc/Big-Berkey-with-Purifier-or-Filter-Options-20p65.htm

Just don’t drink distilled water unless you want the minerals sucked right out of your body.

By: Cyndi

Cyndi — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:25:40 +0000

Samatha, I would buy a water filtration system. I have one now. It is an under the sink model with carbon, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light (the UV light is for cysts and virus and bacteria and I have it because I have a well which we don’t treat, though it tests clean). It puts the water up into a separate faucet and requires electricity to work (for the UV lamp). Carbon filters do not require electricity and I think RO doesn’t either but I am not sure. There are also systems that do not require separate faucets.

Like Adria mentions, you do need to know why your water is not safe to drink. I would not assume that the filter you choose will do the trick. And I would not rely solely on a UV lamp for large amounts of organisms. You’ll need to research it. Your local water agency may be able to tell you what kinds and levels of filters and other treatments you need.

When you buy water, what have they used to purify it? Based on your wording, I’m assuming they start with the same water you use. Then they will run it through filters, treat it, or distill it. If you know what they do, you may simply be able to duplicate it. If not, you at least need to know what needs to change about your water so you can pick the appropriate treatments (and not pay for ones you don’t need).

I am not familiar with brands available in Mexico but there are many good ones in the US. I use TGI and am very happy with them (and have no relationship with them other than as a customer). There are others, and other brands may have features that you need.

A really good filter can run $200-400US, plus installation, but you will not have to buy bottled water anymore. In the US, bottled water can be 50 cents to $1 per gallon, so you recoup your costs pretty quickly. You will need to change filters every 1-2 years so add in another $100/year on average (some years will be less, some more, depending on what needs changing). Depending on what’s in your water, you may be fine with a far less expensive model than I have.

By: Adria

Adria — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:59:15 +0000

Samantha, what’s wrong with the water, exactly? If it’s organisms, you just need to boil it for long enough. If it’s pollutants…you’re out of luck, I think.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:16:12 +0000

What would you do for drinking water if you lived in a place without clean tap water? I live in Mexico and we have to buy purified water in big plastic jugs. Haven’t found any other solution, and wondering what you would do in this case. Thanks!

Great site!

By: Adria

Adria — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:35:43 +0000

The formaldehyde is only released at very high temperatures above what you’d be producing in canning. They explain the details on the Tattler site.

Here’s another alternative: A new design of all-glass and rubber seal jars. I haven’t tried them yet, but they look fantastic: https://secure.concentric.com/weckjars.com/index.php

By: Vix

Vix — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:17:34 +0000

I want to mention real quick about the plastic Tattler lids — instead of getting BPA in your system from the Ball/Kerr canning lids, you are getting POM (a form of formaldehyde) from the Tattler lids. Heating brings that formaldehyde right out of the lid. One chemical is no better than the other, IMO. If I could afford Weck jars and lids, that is what I’d get!

Don’t get any false security from those Tattlers. Only advantage is their reusability.

By: Pain in the Jars « Leave Only Footprints

Pain in the Jars « Leave Only Footprints — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:54:54 +0000

[...] Canning Food for the Winter is Plastic-Free – Except for the Jar Lids! (fakeplasticfish.com) [...]

By: Jane/Smallbones

Jane/Smallbones — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:04:25 +0000

Two things:
1) I reiterate – DON’T use wax to seal. It’s paraffin, a petroleum product, and doesn’t seal safely anyway.
2) I don’t cook my applesauce at all & don’t peel. I cut up and core the apples, puree them in my Vita mixer, bottle & process. That’s it!

By: Alicia Bayer

Alicia Bayer — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:53:59 +0000

I tried the Tattler lids and love them. I’m using them for all my canning now. The company also guarantees them forever. You can read my review here: http://www.examiner.com/green-culture-in-mankato/review-tattler-reusable-bpa-free-canning-lids

And yes, I used to think the food didn’t come in much contact with the lids when I canned at home, but it does big time during processing! It’s boiling up up against the plastic then. Blech!