Quick Action: Ask Vita-Mix to bring back the stainless steel blender pitcher!
Did you know Vita-Mix, the high speed blender that is so fast it can make hot soup, originally came with a stainless steel container instead of plastic?
If you don’t have time to read this whole post, please click the following link to sign and share the brand new petition I posted on Change.org last night asking the company to bring back the stainless steel container.
https://www.change.org/p/vita-mix-please-bring-back-the-safe-non-toxic-stainless-steel-pitcher
Okay, I’m guessing you have questions. I can explain.
Q) Why are you asking Vita-Mix to offer a stainless steel pitcher instead of a glass one like your Waring blender that you love so much, Beth?
Vita-Mix is a whole different breed of blender. Its super high speed makes glass unsafe. What’s more, Vita-Mix blenders came with stainless steel pitchers for years, so there’s a track record of success already.
Q. Why are you targeting Vita-Mix and not other makers of high speed blenders like Blendtec or Ninja?
Vita-Mix is the original and the leading brand in its class. But even more important, the company was founded with the mission of promoting good health. The blender was invented in 1937 by William Grover Barnard, a pioneer in the health food industry, as a way to easily prepare healthy foods. Today, the company is run by William Barnard’s great-granddaughter, Jodi Berg, who is also an advocate for health. Read more about this company’s interesting history in Jodi’s own words.
So, with this emphasis on health in mind, and given that Vita-Mix’s customer base is primarily people trying to eat healthily, it would make sense for this company to offer a healthier pitcher option than hard plastic.
Blendtec, on the other hand, was founded on the idea of destroying stuff.
That said, if you prefer Blendtec or another brand, by all means, contact them and ask for a plastic-free option. But sign and share the Vita-Mix petition too, please.
Q. What kind of plastic is the Vita-Mix container made from and how do you know it’s toxic?
For several years , the plastic containers were made from polycarbonate and contained the hormone-disrupting chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA). Recently, however, Vita-Mix switched from polycarbonate to Eastman Tritan co-polyester, another type of plastic, which is apparently BPA-free. However, recent studies have found that nearly all plastics contain hormone-disrupting additives, even those that are BPA-free. What’s more, plastics manufacturers are unwilling to disclose the proprietary formulae used to make their plastics, so consumers have no way to know exactly what chemicals could leach out or if any particular plastic is truly safe.
Q. Beth, if you’re happy with your Waring blender, why are you starting a petition targeting Vita-Mix?
A month ago, the subject of Vita-Mix came up in a Facebook group of green women bloggers. It turned out, many of the women either had one of these machines or wanted one. And I thought, wow. There is so much power in this group. And we are Vita-Mix’s target group. Do we have the power to get this company to switch back to stainless steel? It was exciting to me to try. Even though the group members are primarily green bloggers, we don’t always agree on every issue. This was one that everyone seemed to support.
Also, this campaign is not mine. It belongs to whoever wants to get involved. I put up the initial petition on Change.org, but this is an experiment to see what we can accomplish together. Do you have other ideas of how to approach the company? Please go for it.
Q. Vita-Mix is really expensive. I don’t think I’d be able to afford one even if the company starts offering stainless steel. What can I do?
A while ago, I learned from Jay at Life Without Plastic that there are plenty of second-hand vintage stainless steel Vita-Mix blenders on eBay. (And if you purchase via this link, My Plastic-Free Life earns a small commission.) That’s where he and Chantal got theirs, and they tell me it works great. (That’s their blender in the image at the top of this post.) Buying second-hand is more eco-friendly anyway!
Q. What else can I do besides sign the petition?
Here are some ideas, but like I said, please come up with some of your own.
1. Share the petition on Twitter. Here’s a sample tweet that is better than the one automatically generated by Change.org because it includes Vita-Mix’s Twitter handle and the campaign hashtag #vitamixss:
Ask @VitaMix to bring back stainless steel pitcher! Sign petition. Share. https://www.change.org/p/vita-mix-please-bring-back-the-safe-non-toxic-stainless-steel-pitcher #noplastic #vitamixss @plasticfreebeth
Or you can just click this link:
2. Use hashtag #vitamixss so we can track activity.
3. Share the petition on Facebook and be sure to tag Vitamix and use the hashtag.
4. Write a blog post encouraging your readers to sign and share.
5. Send an email to your contacts asking them to sign and share.
6. Write or call Vita-Mix. Here is their contact information.
A few months ago, my Mother passed her Vita-Mix blender down to me. She purchased it in 1967 when I was 8-years-old. I’m 57 now. The blender still works great, however, the stainless steel canister leaks around the blades. Rather than junking it and buying another blender, I found the procedures to repair the canister on YouTube and was able to purchase new seals on eBay for about $15. Works great.
I hope Vita-Mix does bring back their older style stainless steel canisters and blenders. They are made to last.
I posted on Vitamix’s facebook page asking why they don’t offer a stainless steel container and they said they’d pass the feedback to their development team! Please post on their facebook to make the request directly so they know how much demand there is!
claudia marissa Waring makes machines with either plastic or glass containers. Mine has glass. The one you are referring to is plastic, and because we don’t know what chemicals are in it, we can’t know for sure it’s safe. I would not buy a plastic blender from any company.
Does anyone have any experience with the dynablend high speed blender that has a glass container?
Thomas Fleming RedTulie
Thanks Thomas for reassuring us about the CAC90 container working with VM
Thomas Fleming RedTulie
I only found these 4 models and as you can see on the page it lists the blenders models that these are compatible with and the MX series is not among them.
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/search/waring-32.-oz-containers.html?filter=jar-type:stainless-steel&parts=y
Thomas Fleming RedTulie
If it fits the waring MX1 commercial blenders it should work. Safest thing is to call waring and ask them or any other retailer if it would fit the same models that the CAC90 container fits. The thing is I only know about the CAC90 which I ordered myself.
RedTulie I don’t know if the Waring 32oz. container will fit. Anyone out there know?
I used a 1 1/4″ diameter by 13 1/8″ long dowel for upright part and a 1/2″ X 7 1/2″ dowel for the cross-piece. I drilled a hole in the large dowel to put the smaller one into to serve as a stop just above the blades. Both came from a local hardware store; I believe they are yellow pine. The length dimension of the fatter dowel will be different, I am assuming, with the Waring container. I do not have one yet. 🙂
Would the Waring 32 ounce container fit as well? I find that the 32 oz size is pretty much overkill.
Does the 32 oz container fit as well? I find that the large container is usually overkill.
Actually it is nice to be able to see through the container.
Thomas Fleming Hi Thomas. Good idea; I am wondering if it will fit my Super 5000? Anyone know?
Will the Waring CAC35 Stainless steel commercial pitcher fit the Vitamix 5200 base?
The Waring Stainless Steel
container fits and works perfectly on most modern Vitamix bases. I was
informed by other people using it and have been using it myself everyday
for a few months.
Please watch my video review for more details:
Stainless Steel Replacement Container for Vitamix & Hummus Demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn_BfbNLNZ0
Has anyone tried any of the 3.5 Horsepower Waring blenders that have a stainless steel container? I wonder if they are as good as the Vitamix? I’m cant seem to find a lot of review of them online. They are pricey.
Do you know if the Vitamix wet or dry blade assembly fits in the Waring CAC90 container and is there a 32 oz. Waring option?
Vitamix told me a long time ago they want to keep all their manufacturing in USA and to make a stainless container here is cost prohibitive. I wonder where the Waring container is made?
Rendirae Trayd76 Yes! The Waring CAC90 container works on the VItamix base (I have a 5200). See my April 27th (post near the top of this comment list) for details. Pricey, but worth it!
Hi, Tom. I know this comment is several months old, but I just discovered it in my spam folder. Thank you for this link! Yes, I do still want Vitamix to do the right thing, but it’s good to know there’s an option out there for people who can afford it.
Trayd76 Do you know if the Waring CAC90 SS container will fit the Vitamix 5000 base?
Dynablend & Waring Extreme are high-speed horsepower blenders that offer glass/steel options. Until Vitamix gives the people what they want, it will continue to give its competitors the upperhand & therefore, lose customers.
Hello all! Instead of waiting for Vitamix to develop a non-BPA container, I bit the bullet and purchased the Waring CAC90 container (as recommended by Trayd76 below). And yes! It works perfectly on my Vitamix 5200!!! Yay!
The CAC90 is expensive, but my gosh, it’s built like a tank…solid stainless steel…and will last a lifetime (or longer)! There’s an added plus too…the pouring spout doesn’t drip at all! The stock Vitamix plastic container always dripped making a mess.
Sure…I wish it was glass so I could see and adjust the ingredients, but that’s a nit. Once you make a few recipes, you know what’s needed. It’s so nice pouring blended veggies from a solid metal container rather than plastic.
Thanks!
Tom
@Paul They had wooden tampers with the stainless versions. I had to make myself one because the plastic one I had disappeared. Wasn’t very hard to do.
Great idea. I had a stainless VitaMix from 1982 until 2006. If they are willing to bring back the stainless containers, I REALLY want them to NOT use sleeve bearings at the bottom of the container. That was a really weak point for that design. The other weak spots were the handle and the gasket between the lid and the container that had to be replaced with some regularity. Those stainless models also had a very powerful reversing motor, unlike the models with the plastic containers. While it’s kind of nice to watch what’s going on in the container while it’s processing, I do not like the plastic vessel that I now have.
I really don’t want to buy another VitaMix but would if they brought back the stainless setup. Plastic bites!
In fact it was the Mother Jones article which prompted me to write Vita-mix. It is must read article.
This is great! I just discovered your petition which I will gladly sign…but wanted to mention that this afternoon I wrote Vitamix asking them to bring back the stainless containers and to suggest if any of the old stainless containers would work on my second generation blender.
Trayd76 Thomas Fleming Thanks so much…great info! Let me know if you need a buyer for the extra Waring container!
Thomas Fleming Trayd76The blades seem to work the same.I have only used it for smothies so far as I kept going back to the Vitamix container for anything that needed a tamper (nut butters and such). I finally got sick of the plastic and made a tamper for the Waring CAC90 which works great. I have made “ice cream” a number of times with no problem (filled the container with frozen fruit and very little liquid (1/5 ratio). It is a well made container that has a removable blade (not as easy to remove as Vitamix but pretty easy). It is pricey, but seems as though it will last for a very long time. I just purchased another one because I stuck a 1.5 inch maple dowel (was going to make this into a tamper but used it before I did, thinking I could use my hand to make sure I did not hit the blades) in it while making ice cream and hit the blades;( One prong bent upwards a little (a little more than an eight of an inch) and I wanted to replace it before using again. Could not find the blade so I ordered a completely new container and ordered a new blade at a later date. I will probably change the blade and end up selling it as i really don’t need 2. Hope this helps.
Trayd76 Cool. Does the Waring work as well as the Vitamix? I.e., do the blades perform the same?
Mother Jones just published an excellent article that describes testing whereby Tritan “BPA-Free” plastics leach estrogenic compounds, In fact, the main ingredient, TPP, is even MORE estrogenic than BPA. Chalk to up to marketing, biased-science and high-paid lawyers for the public not knowing.
Article:
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/03/tritan-certichem-eastman-bpa-free-plastic-safe/
Video interview of the author on Democracy Now:
https://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/4/are_any_plastics_safe_industry_tries
I just sent an e-mail to Vitamix with the above link asking for a no-plastic container! Everyone…please do the same!
Also…I tried signing the petition, but it always resulted in an error. Is it still active? I’ll try again later.
Keep bugging Vitamix!
I wanted to let everyone know that the Waring CAC90 (stainless steel) fits the Vitamix 5200 perfectly.
I want to buy a glass or stainless steel pitcher Vitamix, but I have not bought any kind of plastic and will not. –Steven A. Rail
I would like to join green women bloggers, but I could not find this group. Can you please post link to the group. Thank you.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/greenbloggergroup/
Thank you for organizing petition!
New independent study shows that
plastic, which is in Vitamix, Blendtec, Ninja and many others products
leaching BPA and few other very toxic chemicals. Links in the video
description.
I made exposing video – Short Ver. – BPA free? Shocking
Study: leaching BPA… Q: Vitamix, Blendtec, Ninja… BPA Free??? Short
version included shocking scenes from Plastic Planet Documentary!
I loved seeing this post, because I called Vitamix and suggested a glass pitcher months ago (not thinking about any safety conflict) and the woman I spoke with said that Vitamix was considering it. Not sure if she was just saying that or if there was any truth to what she told me, but it left me feeling a little more hopeful. My tamper is also plastic, which is another point I brought up and she told me that they use to have wooden tampers, but that the old wooden ones wouldn’t fit any of the new models. The e-bay tip for a vintage stainless steel one is great. Yes!! I bet it wouldn’t be too hard to have a wooden tamper made to fit either version. I wonder what kind of tampers came with the old versions? Stainless steel?
I recently got an old one at a garage sale and I love it. Signing.
I have the original vita mix – heavy duty stainless steel. The thing is a beast. I inherited it from my mother in law 10 years ago (she’s still alive, I just somehow got it as part of my marriage to her son). At the time I thought, wow, this thing is old and heavy and stored it away.
Now, a decade later I’ve become more conscious about what I eat, how I consume goods, etc. When my diet took a turn towards mornning smoothies I needed a powerfull blender – and didn’t want plastic. After hours of searching for an option I walked away from the computer frusterated. Until a light bulb went off in my head and I remembered the old clunker was tucked away in a top shelf in my kitchen (where all misfit kitchen gadgets go). It works – and works great. So for those of you looking for a “new” blender. Seek out an old vita mix! Save something from going to the landfill and save money at the same time too!
Good for you Beth for starting this petition. I love my vita-mix but have always been bothered by the fact that it is plastic.
I’m curious about the group of green women bloggers. I am also a green woman blogger and blog for several online newspapers as well as for my own blog under the title “What’s Green With Betsy?” greenwithbetsy.com. I would love to be a part of the green women group. How can I join your fb group?
Thanks Beth. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Beth!! I did buy a Vita-Mix several years ago, despite my disappointment with the plastic pitcher. At the time I did not think about finding a used one. I use mine a lot, and would be so much happier if I could get a stainless pitcher to replace the plastic one. I have signed the petition.
I’m excited to see this petition! I have been looking into Vitamix and keep holding off because of the plastic issue. I’ve been looking on eBay for an old stainless steel one, but maybe I’ll wait and see if this petition gets us somewhere.