FAQs

What type of silicone do you use?

For silicone products, there are mainly two standards , one is LFGB food grade, another is FDA food grade. At Little Blue, we have chosen to use LFGB food grade.

LFGB is standard mainly for Europe, while FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is standard in America (though different country has their own FDA standard, but US FDA is internationally applied.) Silicone products that pass either one of these tests are safe for human use.

The difference between LFGB and FDA lies on the different way of testing method, and LFGB is more comprehensive and more strict.

 

How durable is silicone?

Our LFGB food grade silicone is a safe and convenient alternative to plastic. Due to its flexibility, light weight, easy cleaning and hygienic and hypoallergenic properties (it has no open pores to harbour bacteria), it is especially convenient for weaning cutlery, snack containers, bibs, mats, protective sleeves and bath toys.

LFGB food grade silicone is extremely durable and can withstand freezing and piping hot temperatures better than alternatives such as plastic that can start to crack or melt from exposure to high or low temperatures.

What is silicone made from?

While plastic tends to be made from crude oil that’s extracted from the ground, a non-renewable resource, silicone is made from silica, which is easily found in the sand. While this obviously can’t be considered an unlimited resource, it’s definitely more abundant.

Can silicone be recycled?

Yes! Silicone needs to be sent to a specialised recycling company in order to get recycled correctly, From there, silicone can be down-cycled into various products, such as an industrial lubricant or mulch. Get your free recycling kit here and we’ll make sure your previously loved Little Blue products don’t end up in landfill.

The silicone has developed a mild odour?

You may sometimes notice a distinct smell and these smells that sometimes occur are actually the result of food oils and washing detergents clinging to one another, it is not the silicone material itself. This is because there are no chemicals added into the formula to make the silicone rigid.  

There are several methods to reduce and remove the smell:

  • Lemon Juice is a good solution to use when washing the silicone (not necessary all the time as not all foods will cause the silicone to smell  - but if it does, washing with it greatly helps and it is safe).

  • Baking soda is another product to use. You can wash the silicone product with it when smells are noticed. 

  • Boiling the silicone for 5 minutes after cleaning will also eliminate the smell. 

  • Baking in the oven for 2 hours at 200F/93C will eliminate the smell.

Although our products are dishwasher safe, dishwasher detergent can leave a smell on silicone.  We recommend using washing up liquids that do not contain fragrances or additives, this also helps to reduce the incidence of smells.