Hi, I’m Adam! Welcome to the TGL Blog – your trusted resource for the truth about chemically unsafe kitchenware.
I offer firsthand insights on product safety, guiding you towards authentic, non-toxic alternatives. Leveraging my experience in the design, testing, and sourcing of reusable food ware, along with Dr. Alsayes’ medical expertise, we provide expert advice through our guides.
But who am I, and why listen to me? Interestingly, my journey didn’t start in blogging or product design…
Here’s how it happened:
After high school, my dream of becoming a Marine was shattered due to an underlying disqualification. Quickly, I found myself scrambling for a job and eventually landed one installing fences. Though enjoyable (mostly), I wanted more and quickly became restless.
My constant? A profound love for nature.
Camping in Pennsylvania and swimming at the Jersey shore grounded me, echoing the ethos “Leave it better than you found it,” a mantra from my Boy Scout days that I still live by.
The turning point came with a simple ad: a collapsible, reusable straw. It resonated with my desire to reduce waste and led me to the kitchen and dining industry. A place where we cook, eat, and produce the most waste.
I then invested my hard-earned fence money and off-time into this new pursuit.
It was a challenging journey with significant setbacks, but the lessons were invaluable
My first major mistake involved “enhanced” microwave splatter guards made from supposedly safer reusable plastics. This led to a harsh lesson on plastic leaching, including BPA-free varieties.
Switching to stainless steel seemed like a solution. Yet, my first attempt with 201-grade stainless drinkware failed due to rusting, resulting in a $3,500 loss.
As the months progressed, I dedicated my spare time to building relationships within the tableware manufacturing industry.
I spent countless late nights on WeChat, connecting with manufacturers worldwide to deepen my understanding of their materials and processes. This involved sourcing products, troubleshooting design flaws, and rigorously testing materials to ensure safety.
These costly experiments quickly turned into invaluable lessons.
Eventually, I figured it out
After much trial and error, I landed on our stainless steel kids’ cups. They feature an electropolished 18/8 stainless steel design with FDA and CPSIA-certified silicone lids.
Children’s products demand high levels of safety testing. So, I used Qima Labs — a CPSIA-accredited, N.Y.-based facility with strict, accurate testing.
I was siked to see my work pay off in this report:
We went on to sell thousands of sets throughout the 2010s, directly and through giants like Amazon and eBay.
Here are just a few reviews from our customers:
NOTE: As of early 2023, we’ve paused our sales while we look for a different manufacturing partner. However, we’re working hard to make this set available again!
How my e-commerce experience applies to our blog
I’ve seen firsthand how companies cut costs by opting for inferior steels and silicone, hoping consumers won’t scrutinize their choices.
They often use misleading terms like “PFOA-free,” “BPA-free,” “high-quality,” and “eco-friendly” to convey a false sense of safety.
Moreover, safety checks on major e-commerce platforms are minimal. Through selling on Amazon, eBay, and the like, I found it can be fairly easy to sell knockoffs and untested products. And brands never disclose where they cut corners. Their aim? Keeping expenses low and profits soaring.
These tough lessons honed my research abilities. They taught me to distinguish between safe and hazardous materials and to interpret companies’ misleading language.
This knowledge became the foundation of our blog, a trusted resource for factual information on non-toxic kitchenware.
The TGL Blog was born
Our mission is two-fold:
- Help you make informed decisions on cookware, dinnerware, and food storage purchases by avoiding false safety claims.
- Help you reduce pollution and “leave the planet better than you found it.”
For us, the Good Life is designed to maximize health, both internally and in the world you inhabit.
Our main blog covers five categories:
Each category features product guides and roundups, how-to’s, and answers to your most pressing questions on the subject.
We don’t earn money for each product we promote, nor do we run ads. Our goal is simply to be your trusted source for unbiased answers to product safety questions.