ChicoBag Snack Time rePETe™ Snack and Sandwich Bags

Each Snack Time set includes three reusable snack and sandwich bags that feature a fold-over, hook-and-loop closure system that expands to fit a full-size sandwich, or folds over for smaller snack items.

ChicoBag is an environmentally-minded company located in Chico, CA, whose mission is to “eliminate the unnecessary use of single-use paper and plastic bags.” Their product line is varied, consisting of a variety of reusable bags for shopping, multi-purpose use and fashion. One of the newest additions to their family of products is the Snack Time rePETe™ collection. Here’s the product description from their website:

Take your commitment to a reusable lifestyle one step further by replacing your single-use sandwich bags with Snack Time rePETe! Each Snack Time set includes three reusable snack and sandwich bags that feature a fold-over, hook-and-loop closure system that expands to fit a full-size sandwich, or folds over for smaller snack items. The bags feature a food-safe, water and stain resistant liner that makes for easy cleaning. Each reusable snack pouch is machine washable and complete with a stylish, subtle print. Made of 78% recycled content. $15.99/set

I have tested this product thoroughly and am happy to share my findings here.

True to Life Test 1

Using the three bags contained in one set, I made a typical lunch for school or work. The lunch consisted of a mustard sandwich (which I purposely made sloppily so that some of the mustard would escape out onto the bag liner), a peeled and segmented orange, and some snack crackers. I made the lunch at 8:00 one evening, put it in the refrigerator until 7:00 the next morning, placed it in my purse and carried it around with me through my morning errands, and finally opened the bags to check the contents at 11:30 that morning.

Food Freshness – The bread was still soft and fresh, and the crackers were still crisp, even though they had been in the refrigerator for 11 hours the previous evening.

Stain Resistance – The mustard had, indeed, spilled out onto the inside of the bag, but a quick rinse under the faucet cleaned it right off.

Leak Resistance – Although the orange had leeched out some of its juice, it stayed within the bag and did not soak through.

Hard Life Test 2

For this test I placed two tablespoons of mustard directly into the first bag and closed it up. Into the second bag I placed a quarter cup of blueberries, closed it and squashed them all up inside. In the last bag, I placed a peeled, segmented orange, closed it up and then pounded it well to purposely release a lot of the juice. I then threw all three of the bags up on my kitchen counter and let them sit for a week. (This was to assimilate a child forgetting them in his backpack or locker for a week before bringing them home.)

Stain Resistance – Surprisingly, the blueberries rinsed away with a simple water rinse. But even though the mustard odor and residue came out completely, it did leave a faint yellow stain, even after washing it well with soap.

Leak Resistance – There was no leakage from any of the bags, including the one with orange juice. (When I opened the orange segments bag, the lining of the bag was stuck together from the sugars in the juice. However, as I pulled the sides apart, they separated easily and rinsed clean with no remaining sticky residue.)

The only negative I found in either test was that there was a slight mustard stain after setting in for a week. There was not a residual mustard odor, however, so the faint stain in no way dissuades me from an enthusiastic endorsement of this product. I highly recommend ChicoBag’s Snack Time rePETe™ collection.

 Giveaway!

Chicobag is giving away a rePETe Snack Time Set  to one lucky reader of Natural Family Today!

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Giveaway begins at 12:01 am on June 27th, 2012  and ends at 12:01 am on July 4th, 2012. US residents over 18 only.
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These opinions are my own. Chicobag did not pay me for them. I was supplied a snack set for review.

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