Frequently Asked Questions
Would you like to know more about stainless steel?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
To meet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for food-contact safety, a stainless steel product must have a minimum chromium content of 16%. Ahimsa® products are made of high quality food-grade stainless steel with a composition of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Our colorful products are coated with titanium in a process called Physical Vapor Deposition. Titanium also meets the recommendation for food safe materials because like stainless steel, it is inert - it won't leach into your food. Our products are tested in a US Consumer Product Safety Council (CPSC)-certified lab. We use grade 304 18/8 stainless steel in all of our products except for The Square in our Movable Meal Collection, which is grade 200.
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Would you like to know more about Ahimsa® products?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Just like bamboo, silicone, ceramic, glass and plastic, stainless steel has potential to scratch when used for dining. Stainless steel is non-porous, unbreakable and inert - making it a great choice of material for your kitchen to prevent bacterial growth, broken dishes and leached chemicals.
Stainless steel is rust resistant, but it is not rust proof. If you happen to see any rust, you can simply dampen the affected area and use a soft sponge to clean with baking soda.
No, stainless steel is NOT microwave safe.
Yes! But the best way to care for your products is to gently hand-wash with a mild dish soap, soft sponge and hot water. Please do not use bleach, use harsh detergents, dishwasher pods or abrasive, heavy-duty cleaning products containing bleach or citrus (preferably phosphate level below 3% and avoiding sodium). Please see our Care Instructions for more information on caring for your stainless steel.
Our products are designed in the USA and made in India. Our products are tested in a US Consumer Product Safety Council (CPSC)-certified lab.
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
The first years set the stage for healthy habits for the rest of your child’s life. It’s never too early to start.
Balanced Bites Plates:
Our compartment plates are a visual map for parents to plan and for children to learn about the importance of food variety at each meal. Additionally, parents have found by using stainless steel rather than dinnerware that can be microwaved – they are choosing more healthy, fresh foods for their children.
Cups:
Ahimsa cups are not only inert stainless steel and therefore, nontoxic and do not leach chemicals – but they are also the perfect size for small hands. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that sippy cups should not be used for extended periods of time due to tooth decay. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association discourages sippy cups because they can interfere with a child’s ability to develop a mature swallowing pattern. We are so happy to offer cups that promote health not only due to their makeup, size and structure – but also to encourage healthy teeth, eating and speech development.
Cutlery:
Encouraging children to use utensils during meals helps with pincer grasp and fine motor development. Parents have shared with us that their children often chose not to use their utensils until they started using our brightly colored cutlery and then continued to do so through habit.
We are a new company and have been truly humbled and excited by all of your support! In addition to Mindful Mealtime and Starting Solids Set, we now offer separates for Snack Bowls, Conscious Cups & Balanced Bites Plates in direct response to customer feedback. We plan to continue to add products and innovations to provide safe, healthy products for children and our planet while easing concerns of their caregivers. We LOVE customer feedback, so please reach out to us at Support@ahimsahome.com to let us know if there are products that you would like to see!
Would you like to know more about ordering?
We are now shipping throughout the United States (all 50 states, including the District of Columbia). If you're outside of the United States and interested in purchasing Ahimsa products - please email support@ahimsahome.com. We would love for you to join the Ahimsa family and can assist you with an order. It is our hope to soon ship Ahimsa® products throughout the world! We are working on it!
*For a limited time, we are offering FREE SHIPPING for orders over $125 and $9.99 flat rate shipping to the contiguous US (48 adjoining states and DC). We use an economy shipping based on weight to Alaska and Hawaii.
For a limited time, we are offering FREE SHIPPING for orders over $125 and $9.99 flat rate shipping to the contiguous US (48 adjoining states and DC) for our residential products. We use an economy shipping based on weight to Alaska and Hawaii. We ship based on weight for our commercial line as well.
If you are not satisfied with your product, please tell us why! We are a young company, and we want to hear any concerns and feedback you may have. We will be listening, and your comments and suggestions will help us to fulfill our mission to provide the highest quality products. Don't worry though, if you are still not satisfied, you can return it for a 100% refund. Just email Support@ahimsahome.com.
Would you like to know more about Ahimsa?
Please read more about how Pediatrician and mom, Manasa Mantravadi, MD began Ahimsa® here.
Our Founder, Dr. Mantravadi is obviously passionate about the health and safety of children – as a Pediatrician, as a mother and as an entrepreneur – meticulously working to create what we believe is the safest, most environmentally friendly and practical children’s feeding product on the market.
Dr. Mantravadi is also passionate about food insecurity and her primary mission is to get healthy food to ALL children – understanding that for many families, plates don’t matter if there’s nothing to put on them. Therefore, Ahimsa® has partnered with The Patachou Foundation – to get plastic OFF the table and healthy food ON it! Please read more about this partnership here.
Ahimsa® products are designed by our Founder, Manasa Mantravadi, MD, a practicing Pediatrician. She consults other medical professionals, including fellow-Pediatricians, occupational feeding therapists and fellow-parents to ensure our products are safe and easy to use.
Email media@ahimsahome.com for all media inquiries.
Wholesale: Would you like to have Ahimsa dinnerware in...?
Check out ahimsaschools.com or email schools@ahimsahome.com. Ahimsa is perfect for early childhood to high school - Ahimsa:
Email wholesale@ahimsahome.com for all wholesale inquiries.
Email wholesale@ahimsahome.com for all wholesale inquiries. Ahimsa is practical and eco-friendly - Ahimsa: