keri lynn. ([info]_kli_) wrote in [info]naturalliving,
@ 2008-04-10 21:30:00
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Are "Debbie Meyer Green Bags" safe?
I received a box of these "Debbie Meyer Green Bags" as a gift--the idea is they're supposed to keep your produce fresh for longer.  The package says they are made with "a natural mineral 'Oya' that extends the life of produce by absorbing and removing the ethylene gases that cause normal deterioration." 

It looks a little suspicious to me, especially since they are an "as seen on TV" product.  I tried googling them and found a lot of reviews from people claiming they don't work and that moisture buildup inside the bags is a problem, as well as a few reviews saying they do work.  I couldn't find anything, though, on whether this "oya" stuff and whatever else they are made with is safe. 

I'm inclined to not use them, since I don't have much trouble with produce spoiling before I eat it, but I could see something like this being useful in the summer so I could stock up more on produce from my favorite farmers' market stands.  Do any of you fine folks know anything about the safety of these bags? 

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[info]brandedeclipse
2008-04-11 02:01 am UTC (link)
All I know is that my four year old is fascinated with them and asks me constantly if I plan on using them when we go shopping.

But, since fresh produce doesn't last long at my house, I consider them unneeded. : )

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[info]sparkle_lite
2008-04-11 02:06 am UTC (link)
I'm not sure if they are "safe", or how stable the plastic is or anything, but I use them! I love them. Moisture does build up in the bag if you don't twist it up tight, or if you put cold fruit in the bag and then leave it on the counter. I was and reuse the bags too. I have only bought 2 pack of bags in the past year really. I leave fruit out in hanging baskets, but separated by type in bags. I don't really notice the bags working less over time, and lettuce stays fresh in the bags for WEEKS.

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[info]sparkle_lite
2008-04-11 02:07 am UTC (link)
*I wash and reuse the bags too, and have yet to throw one away.

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[info]_kli_
2008-04-11 02:18 am UTC (link)
I'm glad to hear they're working for soemebody. Thanks for the tips!

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[info]plymouth
2008-04-11 05:52 am UTC (link)
yup, same here, on both of your comments. I used my bags through an entire season of my CSA and only had one rip on me. The others are still in service... and we just picked up our first share of the new season today! They're not like a miracle cure for ageing produce but they do extend the life of it somewhat.

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[info]wolfsilveroak
2008-04-11 02:10 am UTC (link)
Oya is the mineral form of Zeolite, it's non toxic and used in many things, including water filters-
http://www.mall-net.com/mcs/zeolite.html

http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/zeolites.htm

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[info]_kli_
2008-04-11 02:19 am UTC (link)
Cool, thanks for the info!

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[info]wolfsilveroak
2008-04-11 02:24 am UTC (link)
Basically, it's a Rock!, and I love rocks}:P

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[info]unrooly
2008-04-11 03:25 am UTC (link)
I use a different brand - got them at reusablebags.com, and they also have a disk you can put in your produce drawer - but I love them. I wash and reuse them, too.

If it gets damp/wet in there, it's not a good thing. I never wash the produce before I put it in the bag. I dry off the produce just in case it's damp before putting it in the bag. I also squeeze out as much air as possible. If I see it's got moisture in the bag, I wipe it out. If it's lettuce or something that is just going to be damp no matter what, I dry it *and* I add a couple paper towels to the bag to absorb the moisture.

Last summer some of my produce lasted well over a month in those bags. So yeah, I think they work. Some veggies seem to do better than others - and I had lettuce last for 3 weeks on a regular basis - but they definitely never made things go bad faster.

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[info]mawychick
2008-04-11 12:46 pm UTC (link)
and I have the discs (from reusablebags.com)- and I definitely see a difference!

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[info]dolmena
2008-04-15 04:45 pm UTC (link)
I've read a recommendation of oya-stone bags in a fairly old herb book I read recently. So... the theory's been around more than 10 years...

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