BPA (the big one)

First, for anyone who’s been led here by a search engine, I want to reiterate the following:
1. Go read the Pitch Weekly article. Very informative.

2. BPA is something to be very concerned about- despite what the plastics industry and company representatives want you to believe.

3. I’m not a scientist. I’m not an authority on plastics. I’m not a doctor. I’m just a mom who’s pissed and worried and therefore don’t have all the answers- just research results. 

Key points about BPA
No amount is safe- 

A cubic millimeter of a chemical is a milligram, which is a relatively large amount. If you take one thousandth of that, you have a microgram, which is visible to someone with excellent eyesight. (It’s the smallest particle a human eye can resolve.) If you take one of those microgram particles, waft it onto the floor, step on it and grind it into a thousand more particles, you have nanogram particles, which are invisible to the naked eye. If one of those nanogram particles floats into the air and lands in a 1-liter container of liquid and dissolves there, it creates a solution that, in the case of bisphenol A, will stimulate human breast-cancer cells in a cell culture, causing the cancer cells to proliferate.

The studies that state BPA is safe are conducted by the plastics industry and are conducted in a manner to result in their desired outcome (i.e. BPA=safe) and have been widely discredited.

Frederick vom Saal offers this little nugget, with regards to BPA: ”Stay away from food packaging in plastic. Put no plastic in any kind of heat, specifically in the microwave,” he offers. “Virtually anyone we know who knows about this has really changed their lifestyle. And these are very simple things to do. It’s not a crisis, not using canned products,” he says of the fact that bisphenol A is also used in the lining of aluminum cans. “If you drink beer, drink it out of a glass bottle instead of out of a can.”

Hints and tips
Plastics with the the numbers: 3, 6, and 7 should be avoided. Throw them away. So-called “safe” plastics are numbers 2, 4, and 5.

If the product is a clear, hard plastic that mimics glass, chances are very good that it contains BPA.

Avoid canned food and beverages; instead opt for fresh, frozen or glass jars/ bottles as the linings of cans may contain BPA. 

If you’re unsure about a product, call the company. I’ve found that they will likely avoid using the term BPA. Instead they opt for “polycarbonate.” If it’s a polycarbonate it’s virtually guaranteed to contain BPA. If they give you the run-around or become combative (believe me, they will) chances are that a) they know they’re doing something wrong and b) at least something in their product line contains BPA.

Products by company
Avent- Contains BPA and the company has no intentions of changing that. They “stand behind” their product. Think twice before purchasing anything from Avent or its parent company, Phillips.

First Years- Their baby bottles contain BPA. They also “stand beside” the FDA and Plastics Council and have no intentions of eliminating the use of BPA. They’re also real dicks to to talk to on the phone.

Gerber- a mixed bag. Here’s the list of products that DO contain BPA: NUK and Comfort Hold bottles. Transition cups, Fun Starter/ Fun Grip cups and NUK Trainer Cups (see the cups here). Gentle Flex and Natural Flex and the handles and faceplates of some NUK pacifiers. Please note that there website is not up to date and if you want to learn more about BPA containing products you must call them: 1-800-443-7237. They will tell you there is nothing wrong with BPA. They lie.

MAM- Pacifiers contain BPA and, like Avent, they have no intent of changing that. Avoid MAM.

Melamine- Not sure on this one but am researching it.

Munchkin- Some of their products contain BPA, including bottles and pacifiers. Click here for a complete list of products and what they’re made of.

Sassy- Sassy, oddly enough, is the parent company of MAM (see above) and none of its feeding products contain BPA. 

Playtex- This company will cease selling products containing BPA by year’s end. Here is the list of their BPA-free products.

Tupperware: This blog is extremely informative about Tupperware and has extensive dealings with the company. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a list of Tupperware products and what they contain. Good luck finding any information from Tupperware or their website. Their secrecy is, quite frankly, frightening.

Safe(r) products
Go Baby Life
Happybottomus
It’s Only Natural
Soft Landing
Whole Foods- they sell a line of BPA free bottles and sippy cups and these awesome aluminum water bottles
-Cookie magazine has a list of BPA free products.
-Z Recommends has a very comprehensive list here.

Empower yourself- articles to read
“Plastics 101“- Cookie
“Plastic Attack“- Pitch Weekly ***a must read***
“BPA Alternatives…” Kansas City Star
“Toxic Shock“- Cookie
“Canada Bans BPA From Baby Bottles” -Washington Post
“FDA Takes A Look At BPA” (third article down)- Washington Post

My two cents- for what it’s worth
Plastic is composed of chemicals. I don’t care what recycling number appears on the bottom, it’s composed of chemicals. Our house is very gradually going to plastic-free as much as possible. It’s not going to be easy at first but I figure we’ll get used to it and soon it will be second nature.

The companies maintaining BPA is safe piss me off and, quite frankly, I have no intentions of purchasing their products- BPA or no. The fact is that these companies have known for years about the potential health risks and they’ve known for years that it’s the most vulnerable people in our society (infants, toddlers, children) that are most likely to suffer due to BPA…and they could care less.

I strongly, strongly encourage you to ditch any products in your home that might contain BPA, especially if you have children. It just isn’t worth the risk.

 

If you still have questions or something you want to share, comment or e-mail me: tonksblog@gmail.com. Thank you to everyone who has e-mailed me articles, information, etc.