Horizon's kids milks are SAFE!

See the email response below regarding the packaging of the Horizon milk products aimed at children:

Thank you for your recent e-mail to Horizon Organic. We appreciate your interest in our products.

This revolutionary package is a laminate of three materials: high-quality paperboard, polyethylene and aluminum. Each material plays a critical role in achieving the unique benefits of the aseptic package. Paper (70%) provides stiffness, strength and the efficient brick shape to the package. Polyethylene (24%) on the innermost layer forms the seals that make the package liquid-tight. A protective coating on the exterior keeps the package dry. Aluminum (6%) is the silver material you see on the inside of the aseptic package. This ultra-thin layer of foil forms a barrier against light and oxygen, eliminating the need for refrigeration and preventing spoilage without using preservatives. The aseptic package contains a total of six layers in this order: polyethylene, paper, polyethylene, aluminum foil, polyethylene and polyethylene. For more information about aseptic packaging, please visit www.aseptic.org.

There are no health concerns associated with the aseptic package. The silver material you see on the inside of the aseptic package is an ultra-thin layer of aluminum, which forms a barrier against light and oxygen, eliminating the need for refrigeration and preventing spoilage without using preservatives. Aluminum does not touch the food product. The inside layer of an aseptic package, which touches the product, is polyethylene (plastic), not aluminum. Moreover, there is no leaching of aluminum or aluminum components through the polyethylene layer. The polyethylene used in the aseptic package, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), is an FDA-approved food-contact surface material. It is the only material in the package that comes in contact with the food product, and in addition, industry tests have shown that no polyethylene leaches into the food product. For more information about aseptic packaging, please visit www.aseptic.org.

Thanks again for contacting the Consumer Affairs Department.

Sincerely,
Celeste MuelaConsumer Response Representative
Ref: N551779