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Not-So-Happy Returns
I have just been reading "You Asked" Forum in the August issue of the Co-op News and am upset and annoyed with your answer to the question about the jar of Side Hill Farm Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Jam which I assume was purchased at a Co-op store. If I purchase something — clothing, food, etc. — and then find something wrong, I call 800 numbers or return it to the store where I purchased it for either a full refund or credit, etc. I certainly would not, as you suggested, "throw it out" which would be like throwing out my money.
M.O., North Haverhill, NH
REPLY: Thank you for your letter in response to our Forum answer regarding an unsatisfactory product and how to handle it.
We’re sorry that our answer was insufficient in terms of telling the customer to return the product to the Co-op for credit. The Co-op always returns the price of purchase for any product that doesn’t meet a member or customer expectation, regardless of the reason behind it.The reference to "When in doubt, throw it out" is meant to remind people that food of questionable safety should never be tasted first nor eaten because it’s "probably" safe. When using that phrase in our answer, we were not implying that one should literally throw it out rather than returning it to the store. However, we want to thank you for pointing out that this was not clear. Such products can, and should, be returned to the Co-op for a full refund. Likewise, we always want to hear from anyone who believes that a product we sell may have made them ill.
Thank you again for your letter and the opportunity to learn that we could have done a better job with our answer. We appreciate hearing from you.
Perplexed by Plastic
Why do recycling centers only accept plastic containers with necks? What about all my yogurt containers?
J.G., South Strafford, VTREPLY: Although yogurt cups and other wide-mouth containers may be made from HDPE (#2) plastic, the melting point of the plastic in those containers is different from the melting point of (#2) plastic that has been shaped into bottles. This makes them undesirable for recycling together. We suspect that it is most efficient for recycling centers to accept only the higher-volume item, which would be the bottles.
Please read on to find out more on the interesting topic of recyclable yogurt containers.
Reduce, Rinse, Reuse
Can you accept Stonyfield yogurt containers for recycling? I would be willing to collect and mail clean containers back to them for reuse.
S.R. via e-mailREPLY: We appreciate your generous offer to mail back containers collected by the Co-op. However, the Co-op needs to be practical in its use of space and resources and therefore prefers not to duplicate a service that is already available to its members, through either their own town recycling or that of a company such as Stonyfield Farm. For those who are not aware, Stonyfield Farm will accept clean yogurt cups and lids, from their product only. Send them to Stonyfield Farm, 10 Burton Drive, Londonderry, NH 03053.
Stonyfield Farm uses #5 plastic in its yogurt cups and has a thought-provoking explanation of why. The following is excerpted from information provided by the company:
"Stonyfield Farm manufactures millions of yogurt cups annually. We are keenly aware that through our packaging we have an enormous impact on the environment. Our packaging choices are extremely important to us, as we know they are to you.
"In the mid 1980s, when we first began examining the environmental aspects of our packaging, we discovered through our search that recyclability is just one of many factors that must be considered in addressing the total impact of our packaging on the environment. In recent years, an effective tool for measuring the environmental impact of a product has emerged. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is the process of determining the environmental impact of a product from its manufacture and use, through its re-use, recycling, and/or disposal.
Perhaps the most extensive LCA packaging study to date was undertaken by the Boston-based Tellus Institute. The Tellus study findings were surprising, indicating that less than 5% of the total environmental cost of packaging is in the disposal. Over 95% of the environmental cost is in the production of the package! Focusing efforts predominantly on the ‘end use’ such as recycling or disposal addresses only a tiny aspect of the overall container impact.
"It is more accurate to look at the environmental impact of the container over its entire life cycle. The Tellus Institute study concluded that generally ‘...the lightest-weight package, per unit of delivered end product, is generally the lowest-impact product.’ Recycling is important, but it may be more environmentally advantageous to reduce the amount of material generated in the first place. The solid waste hierarchy teaches us to first reduce, then reuse, and finally recycle.
"Stonyfield concluded that at this time, plastic polypropylene (#5) containers appear to be the best option to assure our product quality, with the least amount of material, fossil fuel, and environmental impact. By choosing polypropylene (#5) plastic packing, Stonyfield Farm uses significantly less plastic than we would if our cups were HDPE (#2) plastic. One of the most beneficial characteristics of (#5) plastic is that is made with thinner walls while maintaining the same structural integrity. By using (#5) plastic instead of (#2), in 1998 alone, we prevented the manufacture and disposal of over 85 tons of plastic.
Added environmental savings were achieved through decreased air emissions and resource depletion associated with the manufacture and distribution of the packaging. In addition, polypropylene is manufactured without the use of chlorine, thus eliminating the hazards of deadly dioxin releases during manufacture and incineration which occur with certain other plastics."
Water Process, Demystified
Is there any health risk associated with decaffeinated teas, as there is with some decaffeinated coffees? Also, some Equal Exchange coffees are "naturally decaffeinated with CO2," Is that the same as "water processed?"
P.K., Thetford CenterREPLY: There are three main methods used to decaffeinated tea. The commercial method uses the solvent ethyl acetate to chemically extract the caffeine. The leaves are soaked with solvent, which bonds with the caffeine; when the solvent and water are evaporated, they take the caffeine with them. They may also take a large amount of the health-promoting flavonoids and antioxidants. In addition, some of the solvent residue remains.
Water processing soaks the leaves in water twice. Because antioxidants are also water soluble, they would tend to be extracted as well.
Processing with carbon dioxide (CO2) is the preferred method for most natural companies and is the only decaffeination method approved for organic tea production. Leaves are lightly soaked and then flushed with CO2. When it dissipates, it takes most of the caffeine with it, leaving a majority of the antioxidants behind.
It is important to remember that in any decaffeination process, some amount of caffeine may remain, and the level of antioxidants and other health-promoting components can be impacted by the extraction.
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