Each vitamin and mineral has different nutritional benefits for a developing child and most are obtainable through a healthy balanced diet. Vitamins and minerals at the proper levels of intake daily provide babies with the building blocks for organ, skeletal, muscle, cardiovascular and central nervous system development. Nutrients ingested through food are the most simple and natural for a growing child's system to digest, absorb and convert for growth and energy. This is why we have created our recipes with the highest quality organic ingredients to maximize the natural nutrients found in nature.
Pushing food away or spitting it out is natural part of baby's exploration of food. Continue trying the food in daily intervals so long as it is not causing your child to be unwell or have an allergic reaction. In most cases your child will adapt to the taste and texture within this period and accept the food. It can sometimes take several weeks for a baby to accept a food. Research has shown that introducing as many different foods to your baby as early as possible, makes for less picky eaters later in life.
Every baby's needs are different and will depend primarily on their size and appetite. Developmental stages may also affect their appetite. For example, a growth spurt may mean they will want to eat greater quantities more often while teething may cause them to eat less and be pickier with food. Follow your baby's lead on how much and when they want to eat.
Our fruits & vegetable flavors are suitable for any time of day. Peach, Apricot & Banana is perfect for breakfast or dessert. Meals such as Sweet Potato, Corn & Apple, and Spinach Peas & Pear are great for lunch and dinner. As your baby develops, consider mixing the single fruit varieties or using the contents as building blocks to bigger meals like Pumpkin Banana in your favorite pancake recipe! Our re-sealable child-safe caps are perfect for travel, so just use what you want save the rest for later. No more double-dipping fears or shattering glass jars!
The typical timeframe for starting babies on solid foods is around 4- 6 months of age. Signs that a child is ready to experiment with solid foods are sitting up on their own and showing an interest in food. Please consult with your pediatrician beforehand to ensure that your baby is ready.
Implemented in 2002, the USDA Organics certification system went through over a decade of development. For packaged foods, only products that contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients (the other 5% must come from an approved National Organic Program list) can use the seal on its packaging and must be made in facilities that are certified to meet strict USDA Organic guidelines. Certified by an independent third-party, all USDA products must show documentation that allows full traceability from the retailer shelves to the field where the organic ingredients were grown.
Organic produce is grown without the use of pesticides and minimizes the use of off-farm inputs. In general, Organic produce is also greater in nutrients because the plants are allowed to grow fully and the soil has time to regenerate - according to nature's timeframe. In many cases, organic produce had 2 to 3 times more vitamins and antioxidants than non-organic samples.
Pesticides, hormones and antibiotics can affect a baby's under-developed immune and digestive system and has been linked to developmental problems. Organic agricultural practices seek to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.
Not only is Organic safer for baby, but organic foods have been found to taste better too. Why not start your baby on the best tasting, most nutritious, safest food available?
We are working towards certifying all of our products. According to the OU, The following Plum Organic products are certified kosher ONLY when bearing the OU symbol.
It is important to note that not all of our packaging is up to date, and does not yet reflect the OU symbol, so it is your call as to whether or not these products are acceptable. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Additives and preservatives are not easy to digest or ingest and can cause problems for a baby's developing system. They are not a necessary part of a child's nutritional needs and should be avoided.
All pouch contents have been lightly pasteurized. Though food is minimally processed and cooked at lower temperatures than jarred varieties, it is still pasteurized to ensure product safety.
Ratio of fruits to veggies varies depending on flavor. They can be anywhere from a half to full serving per pouch. We recommend consuming a variety of pouches for a good range of color, nutrients and tastes. And we always recommend incorporating local, seasonal varieties of veggies and fruit as soon as baby moves onto more textured meals or whenever your lifestyle permits.
Blueberries are not a common allergen and as of 2008 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer recommends delaying the introduction of any foods beyond 4 to 6 months old as a means to prevent eczema, asthma, or food allergies. In fact, introducing foods between 6 and 12 months may decrease the odds of allergies. Blueberries may be introduced to babies at 6-8 months of age. There still exists some confusion, as many people have been advised not to offer their little ones berries until after 12 months of age. However, this “rule” did not include blueberries. The blueberry is not related to the strawberry, which can be a mild-to-highly allergenic food. As always, if you are concerned about when and if to introduce blueberries, please consult with your pediatrician.
We also recommend visiting the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on food allergies or the AAP website for the most up to date allergen information.
Plum products may use less than 2% organic lemon juice concentrate added to ingredients that are not naturally acidic foods. Pathogens cannot live in food with a Ph of 4.6 or lower. The additional acid is used to lower Ph to ensure the safety of the product without the use of artificial preservatives or high-heat pasteurization. From a culinary perspective, the overall volume is just low enough to create the perfect balanced taste. Our recipes include organic lemon juice wherever possible to enhance the flavor freshness, and to keep our food tasting bright and fresh. The small amount of added lemon juice is a benefit, not a concern for allergies or digestion.
Our pouches have a tamper evident seal that clicks during opening, keeping the product fresh. Our pouches are gently cooked, and utilize a specific blend of ingredients and balanced acidity levels to ensure product safety. However, in rare instances a pouch may become compromised. Be sure to always check that the pouch is not leaking or bloated before giving it to a child, as it signifies a quality issue. If you notice that the pouch packaging has been compromised in any way, such as a bloating, or a tear or puncture, we do not advise or recommend that you feed the product to your little one.
The baby food pouches can be served at room temperature, slightly chilled, or warmed in a bowl of hot water. DO NOT microwave pouch. To serve, simply twist off the cap, squeeze into a bowl or directly onto a spoon for your little one to enjoy! The pouches can be stored in your cupboard until ready for use. Refrigeration is required upon opening and we recommend meal should be consumed within 24 hours for best quality and taste.
Our products are indeed safe for air travel (we’ve not heard of our pouches ever bursting on the plane). In fact, one of the things that our customers love so much about our pouches is that they’re so convenient and easy to travel with. If you’re still concerned, it won’t hurt to put the pouches in a zip-lock bag.
There is no need to discard open pouches after 24 hours. Refrigerated food will still be safe to consume within 2-3 days. Our 24-hour recommendation is based on optimal freshness and taste quality.
As a Certified B-Corporation, an important goal of ours is to reduce our environmental impact through waste reduction and lessening the energy in the manufacturing and transportation of our products. We have confirmed from our supplier and several independent studies that the largest carbon footprint in the life cycle of a product actually occurs during the manufacturing and transportation process. We are happy to say that our lightweight, soft-sided pouch is 10x lighter than the traditional glass jar and cap, and requires less time & energy to produce. All of which leads to less transportation in freight, reduced greenhouse gases, and lower costs.
We continue to strive for innovative packaging and processes that are as green as they can be without jeopardizing the integrity of our ingredients and products. The packaging industry is showing progress and we all hope to get there soon!
Unfortunately, the pouch is currently not recyclable because of the multi-layer of foil. However, our pouch is still considered an industry wide eco-alternative because of its lightweight and size, all of which contributes to less breakage, food waste and lighter freight. Additionally, the resealable cap is a #2 plastic so that is indeed highly recyclable and we encourage that at the very least. We are working to provide an "upcycle" solution - so please stay tuned!
Our pouches are made from safe materials. They are a mix of 100% BPA & phthalate free plastic and foil - a special blend that helps to naturally preserve the nutrients and retain the vibrant color & taste. The inner lining is made from a food grade polyethylene.
Unfortunately, at this time our products are not yet available in Canada. Our friends at EcoMom.com and Amazon.com do ship to Canada, and we have been told they offer pretty good rates and will work with your family on the best shipping option.
Thanks for being a fan and sorry we cannot be there with them quite yet! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
While we would love to get our yummy, organic products into the mouths of everyone that requests them, we’re very sorry but it’s not something we are able to do at this time.
Yes, we often offer coupons directly to consumers and you will find these coupons on our Social pages and/or on our website. Become a fan on Facebook.com/PlumOrganics for info on baby and toddler offers and Facebook.com/PlumForKids for kids offers and giveaways.
While we don't have a multiples program, we’d be happy to send you some coupons to help off-set the cost of our products. Please send requests to info@plumorganics.com.
Because food safety our #1 priority, we abide by Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPS) that ensure product lines are thoroughly cleaned and known contaminants are kept in separate kitchens.
Our pouch products are free from common allergens such as wheat, soy, dairy, nuts, and eggs, and our products are NOT manufactured in facilities that process peanuts.
To elaborate a bit on our manufacturing standards and provide some additional confidence in our brand, we do follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) which applies to terms of operations, sanitation, processes and beyond. All of our incoming ingredients are accompanied by a certificate of analysis assuring that all parties are following GMP’s as well. We reached out to our facility manager to provide you with some more details regarding our handling practices:
Incoming carrier inspection: Cargo areas of trucks delivering incoming ingredients and materials are inspected for sanitation, the presence of cross-contamination, pest issues, open containers and other concerns. Inspection results are documented.
End of Day Sanitation: At the end of each day, a complete cleaning of all equipment, utensils, and environment is carried out with preoperational inspection. All Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP's) and additional procedures specific to detailed equipment cleaning and Master Cleaning Schedules (MCS) are documented and maintained.
Training: Allergen and GMP training is provided to all employees.
Our products are manufactured in North America, with the exception of our Plum Tots Teensy Fruits & Plum Kids Shredz, which are manufactured in Belgium.
We strive to use domestic product when available, so most of the ingredients we use are sourced from the US. There are some products which require the need to go outside the US, such as tropical fruits which grow in Mexico and South America. All ingredients are rigorously tested and meet our highest safety standards.
One of the major differences between our Stage 1 Just Fruits and Stage 2 Second Blends purees and Mish Mash is the texture and consistency. Just Fruits and Second Blends are a smoother texture and thinner consistency than Mish Mash, which is slightly thicker. Our Fruit & Grain Mish Mash contain a blend of organic fruit purees and grains, so it’s an even heartier version of our regular puree Mish Mash. Just Fruits is recommended for ages 4 months and up, and Second Blends are recommended for ages 6 months and up. Mish Mash is from our Plum Tots product line, and is geared towards older babies and toddlers.
