The last time you ordered a drink at a restaurant, did it come with a plastic straw? According to the Trash Free Seas Alliance, the average American uses 1.6 straws a day. In the US alone, that’s enough to circle the equator two and a half times.
Single-use plastic items such as straws—as well as stirrers, bags, and cups—are convenient, but convenience can come at an environmental cost if they aren’t disposed of properly or recycled. Many marine animals mistake these and other plastic items for food. Plastic has been found in an estimated 90% of all seabirds and in all sea turtle species. Within the next decade, there could be a pound of plastic for every three pounds of fish in the ocean.
Recycling and proper waste disposal help reduce the plastic trash that ends up in our landfills and seas, but there is another action you can take. By refusing an OLD SCHOOL PLASTIC straw, you can help prevent plastic pollution. You can also ask your local restaurants to provide Pura Vida Straws only.
Imagine the impact if we all gave SWITCHED to Pura Vida Straws that break down naturally in the environment in as little as 30 days?
Shocking new research has shown that babies have up to 15 times more microplastic in their bodies than adults.
This worrying new evidence will only add to fears that microplastic pollution has already got totally out of hand and will have serious effects for years to come, even if we begin to introduce measures to curb it right away.
In recent months, as part of our ongoing spotlight on the harmful industrial and natural chemicals that are playing havoc with our health, we’ve written about microplastics on a number of occasions.
Microplastics – tiny pieces of plastic that are either designed to be that size or become so through weathering – act as vectors for harmful xenoestrogens, as well as causing physical damage to organisms, especially microorganisms and juvenile organisms like baby fish.
The scale of the problem is already mind-boggling. Scientific models now suggest that microplastics are so ubiquitous that they are circulating like a ‘force of nature’, reaching the most remote places – even places humans have never set foot before.
Researchers at the New York University School of Medicine compared stool samples from newborns, infants and adults to ascertain concentrations of two different kinds of plastic in them. All of the subjects were from New York State.
The team were looking for two common kinds of microplastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC).
First of all, they noticed that all of the samples contained at least one of the two types of microplastic they were looking for. This shouldn’t be surprising, given what we already known about the ubiquity of these substances.
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Are paper straws gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease?
The switch away from plastic straws has opened up a straw wonderland of sorts, with many eco-friendly options, including reusable, or biodegradable, and compostable.
Many celiacs are concerned that some of the new biodegradable straws, especially paper straws, may contain gluten. For people with celiac disease, a little gluten can be a big deal, so naturally, many people are concerned and eager to get the facts.
Are paper straws gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? What drinking straws are gluten-free-free and safe for people with celiac disease?
Paper Straws: Compostable. Unlikely to contain gluten, but it’s still possible.
The National Celiac Association website points out that paper straws are unlikely to contain gluten. We also checked the website for one of the largest straw makers, Aardvark straws, which makes straws for Disneyland and Disney World, among others. Aardvark straws contain no known allergens and are used in numerous hospitals. Aardvark straws do not have any gluten in or around them when being made. It is possible that wheat starch could be used to make them, and if so, they would not be safe. To be on the safe side, those with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis may want to avoid using paper straws.
Bamboo Straws
Good for hot and cold drinks, sustainable material, reusable and compostable. Good for short-term use.
Biodegradable Plastic Straws
These straws hold up well and feel like their non-eco-friendly cousins. Compostable plastic straws are made from plant starches (typically corn) and oil and decompose naturally in 2-3 months at a recycling facility. If they are made using corn starch or other non-gluten-containing starches they are gluten-free. It is possible that wheat starch could be used to make them, and if so, they would not be safe. To be on the safe side, those with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis may want to avoid using biodegradable plastic straws.
Glass Straws
Hard to clean, break easily. Gluten-free.
Silicone Straws
Heat and cold resistance. Soft, and pliable. Boilable and microwaveable. Gluten-free.
Stainless Steel Straws
Retain heat and cold, can poke teeth and mouth; many come with protective rubber tips. Hard to clean. Reusable and eco-friendly. Gluten-free.
Wheat Straws
Surprisingly unlikely to contain gluten, and often marketed as gluten-free. So how can wheat straw be safe for celiacs? Wheat straw is made from the stalk and stems of the wheat plant after the gluten-containing top part has been harvested to make flour. This wheat straw comes from a part of the wheat plant that does NOT contain gluten. Wheat straws are one-time use, and compostable. The straws are marketed as gluten-free, however strange that may seem, based on the name. Even so, to be on the safe side, those with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis may want to avoid using wheat stem straws.
STRAWS BELOW ARE NOT GLUTEN-FREE
Pasta Straws
Made from wheat pasta tubes. Compostable. One-time use. Not gluten-free.
Source: Here
