Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Preservative Free Cordial

I recently wrote to P & N Beverages regarding their decision to add benzoate preservative back into their cordials. Their's was previously the only cordial avaiable that did not contain benzoate preservative and coal tar dye colours.
This was part of a compaign being run by Additive Alert. Here's the link
The preservatives used are 211 and 223. Both of these preservatives are not recommended for asthmatics, and 211 is also linked to hyperactivity and adverse behaviour effects in children.
I received a response today which basically said that the preservatives met requirments set by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!! Just because FSANZ approves the use of these preservatives doesn not make them OK. Buying cigarettes is not illegal for adults but we still know the health effects associated with smoking.

Following is a PRESERVATIVE FREE Cordial you can make yourself

INGREDIENTS:
6 Lemons or Oranges
2 cups Sugar (can be raw if you like)
1 teaspoon Citric Acid
1 Litre Water
Juice the oranges and lemons well. Place juice in a
large saucepan and add the water and sugar. Slice
4-6 rind segments off the juiced oranges and add
to the saucepan (being careful not to use the pulp
or white part of the citrus)
Bring the mixture to the boil. Then turn down heat
and simmer for 35 minutes. Add the citric acid.
When cooled, strain the cordial and carefully pour it
into a bottle. Store in the fridge. Serve diluted.
NOTE: Citric Acid is sold as a powder and can be
found in the baking section of the supermarket.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Update

My blog has been sadly neglected lately :(
Last month was very busy with the Great Down Under Nappy Hunt. Always a lot of fun. Spent WAAAAYYYY to much time hunting myself but I really enjoyed looking around at all the talented WAHM's out there and their websites.
At Green Chickadee I've added some more new products in the household cleaning section. We now have soap nut powder as well as the soap nuts themselves.
I found the best way to use them is to make up a liquid by putting the powder in my washbag I got with the unground nuts (you could use a stocking or old sock instead). You then put it into a jug of boiling water and leave overnight. Use 2 teaspoons of powder for every cup of water. It gets the good stuff out without leaving any residual on your clothes and the liquid can also be used for other cleaning like floors, bathrooms toilets. Use 1 cup of the liquid for a full load of laundry.

Also now in stock are Enviroballs. The Washball lasts for 1,000 washes (costing only 5 cents per wash) replaced laundry powder or liquid and elimates the need for fabric softener.
Their dryer ball naturally softens clothes and cuts down on drying time reducing energy consumption.
I'm in love with the stainstick. Smells loooovely and works a treat on my 7 year old son's school skirts which come home in a disgusting state!
With all the testing of soap nut powder and the Enviroballs that have been happening in our house over the past couple of weeks my laundry pile is gone!!!!!!!!!