Read more on Bisphenol A…
Bisphenol A is a chemical that is used in polycarbonate plastic bottles that are as hard and clear as glass, to prevent the plastic from shattering. Many brands of infant feeding bottles contain BPA [1], as do the linings of cans and tins that contain powdered infant formula. Repeated heating of polycarbonate plastics may cause leaching of the BPA. An artificially fed baby may ingest a double dose of BPA, leaching from the feeding bottle and from the tin lining into the milk powder. "Infants fed with concentrated canned infant formula have among the highest exposures of anyone eating canned foods. Infants fed canned formula with polycarbonate bottles can consume non-negligible quantities of BPA"… (European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Opinion: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/afc/afc_opinions/bisphenol_a.html
The Government of Canada follows the Precautionary Principle
On June 18 2008, Health Canada announced their ban on the import, sale and advertising of plastic polycarbonate infant feeding bottles containing BPA, following a public consultation. The Government decided
to take a precautionary stance to protect vulnerable babies and young children, after initial assessments showed BPA to be "inherently toxic", even at low doses.
Position of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN)
IBFAN works around the globe to protect the right of parents and caregivers to take informed decisions on
how to feed infants and young children, free from commercial pressures and from the misinformation with
which companies promote their products. These products include both breastmilk substitutes such as infant formula and baby teas, as well as feeding bottles and teats or nipples. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes includes feeding bottles and teats under its Scope, in article 2.
Despite the evidence of increased implementation of the International Code into national legislation that can
be enforced and monitored, few national laws include feeding bottles and teats. Yet the market is constantly increasing: it is estimated that one company distributes 20 million bottles a year, while in 2004 the market for bottles and teats was worth USD 135 million.
Companies are seeking to further expand this market, and in one European country, one feeding bottle manufacturer has begun direct advertising to the public, using claims that their bottles are "medical" and that they feature patented internal vents for colic prevention. They claim that their brand provides "active and
natural nutrition". Another company is attempting to create a market in the Middle East region, making claims with the promotional slogan: "It´s A Natural!"
As seen above, there is nothing "natural" about these plastic infant feeding bottles. Manufacturers should not be allowed to make such claims, especially since few manufacturers provide information about the composition of the plastic. It is clear that if companies admit the toxicity of BPA at low doses, then they expose themselves to litigation and legal class action.
It is thus the responsibility of governments to follow the precautionary principle by enacting legislation or by banning clear plastic infant feeding bottles containing BPA. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of parents and care-givers to exert and maintain pressure on governments to act in the best interests of small babies – and not in the best interests of market-creation for increased company profits.
[1] Plastics with the recycling code nos. 3 and 6 contain BPA and no.7 may do so.
