Bisphenol-A in Infant Formula: A Bigger Concern Than You Think

Lately all eyes have been on bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby products, specifically in baby bottles and sport bottles. However we need to pay attention to other areas where we come into contact with BPA.

Far more leeching of BPA occurs in ready-to-serve canned liquid formula than in baby bottles. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the FDA, testing has shown that the BPA that leaches into formula and other canned goods subjects babies and pregnant women to harmful exposure. The EWG has calculated that 1 out of 16 children fed ready-to-eat formula from steel cans have exposures to BPA that exceeds doses which are harmful in animal studies. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has also expressed concerns about infant exposure to BPA. A panel of 38 BPA experts expressed grave concerns related to human exposure to BPA that are at or above levels that have caused harm in animal studies. The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) has concluded that brain development and behavior can have adverse affects when there is infant exposure. This suggests that parents should avoid exposure to BPA until there is futher information.



According to the EWG's Formula Buying Guide

1. Your first choice should be powered formula in a can with as little metal possible, such as the brands listed below

Better: Nestle, Enfamil, and Similac powdered formula

(BPA is in the top and bottom of the can).

Good: Earth's Best and Bright Beginnings powdered (BPA in the entire can).

Avoid: All liquid ready-to-eat formula in metal cans.

2. Second choice: concentrated liquid formulas

View the EWG's full report on BPA in infant formula here and print there printable PDF. Just because the FDA deems BPA safe does not mean that it is; recent studies have suggested that there is "some concern" read this related article on the review of how the FDA has been handling BPA in baby products.

BPA Updates

In the last several weeks there have been many things happening with bisphenol-A. Last week Canada declared BPA a toxic chemical; many retailers took action and removed products from their shelves and now Canada is proposing a ban on BPA. Babies R Us has announced that they will be BPA and Phthalate free by the end of 2008. Even Nalgene has recently announced that they are going to discountinue the use of Polycarbonate in their water bottles and according to a USA Today article, the FDA is reconsidering the safety of BPA.

• "The FDA isn't recommending people stop using BPA, says Laura Tarantino, director of the FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety. But the agency will take another look at the safety of baby bottles, formula cans and other products made with BPA, which has been shown to leach into food. Depending on their findings, she says, the agency could require changes in the way these products are made or the amount of BPA that's allowed to be used."

Rep. John Dingell and Rep. Bart Stupak both democrats of Michigan and leaders of the energy and commerce committee are investigating the FDA's handling of BPA and are calling for a safety check as a result of recent reports expressing "some concern" about the effects of BPA .

• "Scientists don't have much evidence about how BPA affects people. But environmental organizations such as the Environmental Working Group note that 100 studies have found harmful effects in animals at very low levels. Many researchers are concerned that BPA, which acts like the female hormone estrogen, causes profound effects on animals in low doses, especially during pregnancy and infancy. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found BPA in 95% of Americans tested."

Dingell and Stupak expressed concern that the FDA is basing the alleged safety of BPA on two industry funded studies. Both reports were done by the American Plastics Council and one of the reports has not even been released to the public.

• "This raises serious concerns about whether the science FDA relied on to approve the use of bisphenol A was bought and paid for by industry." Dingell.

Further more, according to the USA Today article, the American Chemistry Council, which is also an industry group states that, the FDA should clear up the fear and confusion about BPA, which it says has been safely used for decades. A new FDA statement, the council says, will "help explain the extensive scientific review that has already been conducted." Seems like the American Chemistry Council thinks that they have this one in "the bag" or should be say in the bottle.

Senators Charles Schumer and Diane Feinstein introduced a bill yesterday that would ban bisphenol-A in all children's products. Seems like our government is finally catching up with our neighbors to the north.

Bisphenol-A is in the news again

Bisphenol-A has made the news again. Last week on the NBC Nightly News and then again on the Today Show. The heart of their recommendation is to avoid plastic types #3, #6, and #7 was, "We won't have enough data for years, but if you have a choice, why take a risk?"

Nalgene one of the staunch supporters of BPA launched their new website Nalgene Choice last week amist the negative BPA press. The new site features BPA-free bottles both to showcase two new lines, one plastic and the other stainless steel, as well as a variety of other specialized drinkware products made of a laundry list of BPA-free plastics - polyethylenes (HDPE, LDPE, PET) and even some polypropylene food storage containers. They however have not removed their origional Nalgene sport bottle which does contain BPA.

Then again Monday the Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program released it's study on BPA and noted that there is "Some Concern that babies and fetuses exposed to BPA could have higher risk of prostate and breast cancer and early onset puberty later in life." The report went on to say that, "The possibility that bisphenol-A may alter human development cannot be dismissed. For more information on this report check out Good Morning America's segment that they rain on BPA and the report this morning. This report has left some members of congress calling on the FDA to reconsider the safety of bisphenol-A

Just this week Canada became the first government to say that it considers BPA unsafe and many Canadian retailers have removed products containing BPA from their shelves. For more information read the full article from Globe and Mail.

"We won't have enough data for years, but if you have a choice, why take a risk?" I know that I am not willing to wait 20 years to find out whether or not bisphenol-A is safe or unsafe. For more information on BPA-free products check out the Z Report on BPA in Childrens Feeding Product, Third Edition.

Please Sign the Healthy Child Healthy World Petition

Help change the way companies do business and please sign the Healthy Child Healthy World petition for toxic free baby bottles and join parents from across the country to send a message to leading baby bottle manufacturers that toxic chemicals like BPA don't belong in our children's products! If you have not already been to their website it is great and a wonderful resource for parents. If you are still on the fence about how you feel about this subject check out this artical from The Center for Health, Environment and Justice or the article Polycarbonate: The Plastic that Keeps on Giving…BPA from Healthy Child Healthy World.

Born Free Bottles and Sippy Cups

Once I decided to change Jack's daycare bottles to Bisphenol-A-free (BPA-free) bottles I had to decide which bottle I was going to use. I did some research and decided that I wanted bottles from companies that do not use polycarbonate, which leaches BPA. This narrowed my choices to three bottles; Born Free, Green to Grow and Think Baby. My choice came down to what was available locally; I wanted to make the switch over the weekend so that we would be ready for daycare Monday morning. My choice was Born Free; they were available locally at Babies R Us. I have to admit that I was a little taken aback by the price $19.99 for a two pack, but I figured this was important.

One great feature of their bottles is that all the parts are interchangeable from the bottles, trainer cups and drinking cups. This was a big selling point for me because this means that I will be able to change the bottles into trainer cups and then into drinking cups all just by changing the nipple/spouts. Another feature that I like about these bottles are the disc shaped covers that go underneath the colar and nipple to help eliminate leaks. I always seemed to have leaks with my old Avent bottles. So far I am very happy with these bottles and the peace of mind that they give me.

What is Bisphenol A?

What is Bisphenol A?
Excerpt from Safe Mama:
Bisphenol A is a hormone-mimicking chemical used in polycarbonate plastics and resins commonly used for items such as shatterproof baby bottles. Bisphenol has estrogenic properties which, in animal tests has shown to cause a bevy of health problems such as an increase in prostate and breast cancer, uro-genital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men, early onset of puberty in girls, metabolic disorders including insulin-resistant (Type 2) diabetes and obesity and neurobehavioral problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Research is showing that when plastic containers, mostly those used to hold liquids and foods, are leeching Bisphenol into the foods and liquids they are holding. Heating food and liquids with these plastics is shown to increase the leeching of this contaminate.
Many companies use this chemical in their packaging including cans, soda cans, and plastic food containers. There is a risk of absorbing this chemical through the use of containing foods and liquids but can also leech into our water systems through landfills.
Many leading experts argue that the use of Bisphenol is safe to the human public but research may begin to further prove otherwise.

Excerpt from Wikipedia:
“Bisphenol A has been known to leach from the plastic lining of canned foods and, to a lesser degree, polycarbonate plastics that are cleaned with harsh detergents or used to contain acidic or high-temperature liquids.[16] Infants fed with liquid infant formula have among the highest exposures of anyone eating canned foods. Infants fed canned formula with polycarbonate bottles can consume quantities of Bisphenol A up to 13 µg/kg/day.”

Cheat Sheet for BPA free Bottles, Teethers, Pacifers and Sippy Cups

BPA Free Bottles

~Born Free Bottles
~Green to Grow
~Think Baby Bottles
~Siliskin
~Wee•go Glass Baby Bottles
~Evenflow Glass Baby Bottles
~Nuby Baby Bottles
The 3 Stage Non-Drip Standard Neck Bottle is an affordable BPA free alternative.

BPA Free Pacifiers

~Playtex “Binky” (one piece silicone pacifier)
~Gerber Silicone NUKs (All Gerber pacis are free of polycarbonate plastic)
~The First Years Soothies Silicone Paci’s
~Vice Versa Binky w/ Case
~Natural Rubber Natursutten Paci


BPA Free Teethers

~Sassy Jelly Fish Teethers
~Sassy Coolin’ Teether
~Sassy Chilly Dilly Daisy
~Luv n’ Care Icy Bite Teether
~Nuby Jiggle Giggle Teethers (cow and butterfly)
~Nuby NibblerNuby Ice Gel Teether Keys on a Ring
~Nuby Bug-A-Loop Teether
~Je Je Vibrating Teether (rubber)
~Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether
~Vulli Chan Pie Gnon Teethers
~Comfort + Joy Teether (coming soon)
~Leapfrog Gentle Vibes teether
~Sassy Buzz n’ Bites teether

Sippy Cups

~Sigg

~The Safe Sippy
~Born Free Training Sippy Cup
~Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Reusable Bottles
~Foogo Sippy Cups and Straw Bottles by Thermos

The Soft Landing Blog also has a great list of Nuby BPA Free products. Becareful though because some of the Nuby cups have PBA in the lids.

*This list contains the BPA Free products that I am aware of. If there is a product not on here, it does not mean it’s not safe. Inquire with the toy maker about materials used if you are unsure. If you see that a product is not listed here that should be please let me know so that I can add it.

For my favorite websites to buy PBA free products check out my list to the right of this blog.

Websites/Blogs that I uses to reference this shopping list Z Recommends and The Soft Landing

Bisphenol-A in Baby Bottles/Sippy Cups/Water Bottles (Video Clip)

This is what started it all for me, my mom saw this segment on Good Morning America about Bisphenol-A (BPA) and so did my friend Missie. Go to SafeMama to watch the segment.

"A new study was conducted by the University of Cincinnati recently that found Bisphenol-A (BPA) can leach into liquids when boiling water was added to polycarbonate containers. The new study revealed it’s the liquids temperature that has the effect."