Baby bottle safety

Posted by Andrew Wadge on May 6th 2008 in Science, safety and health

The Canadian government looks to be moving towards restricting the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact plastics. BPA is a chemical used in the manufacture of plastics and resin. These materials are then widely used to make many things from baby bottles to food containers and tableware.

Very small amounts of BPA can migrate from these materials into foods and beverages and may have the potential to interact with hormone systems in the body. That said, despite extensive research world-wide, there is no conclusive evidence of a link between adverse trends in human reproductive health and exposure to these chemicals. In addition, levels of chemical migration are already strictly monitored and controlled within the EU.

As a parent, I realise how important it is to ensure the well-being and safety of your children.  This is why I welcomed the opinion by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) last year that concluded, following an extensive review, that dietary exposure to BPA, including that of infants and children, is estimated to be well below tolerable daily intake or TDI. The TDI is an estimate of the amount of a substance, expressed on a body weight basis that can be ingested over a lifetime without appreciable risk.

This means, in terms of BPA exposure, a three month old, bottle-fed baby, weighing 6kg would need to consume more than four times the usual number of bottles of baby formula each day before it would even reach the TDI.

Here at the Food Standards Agency we will, of course, be paying close attention to all the latest research as it is important that the food we eat and the food we feed our children is safe.

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Re: BPA and exposure of toxic substances to foods in general

Posted by Theresa (not verified) on 06/05/2008 - 20:04

What worries me with regard to your comments in thge press earlier today is that you are prepared to accept that any level of forced intake of bisphenol-A is 'well below tolerable daily intake'. And then there are other considerations; It's all very well saying it's 'OK' in isolation - have you considered what it's reactions are when mixed with the number of other toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis - food or otherwise?

Are far as I'm concerned, any level of toxicity is too much and should not be considered.

BPA contained in babies' bottles

Posted by Sarah (not verified) on 06/05/2008 - 17:38

I am a mother of a 3 year old and a 6 month old baby and have heard the news about BPA in babies' bottles. I am now worried and confused about how to sterilise my baby's bottles and also how to fill them (with boiled water or not??)and warm them. Also, now that she is starting to eat purees I have recently purchased some plastic containers for storing home-made purees in - on the packaging it clearly states that they are microwavable and safe in freezer and dishwasher - but isn't it the heat that causes the BPA to leach out? Should I therefore not be heating the purees in the microwave?? I am cross that dangerous plastic chemicals are even allowed near food/food storage containers and are allowed to be manufactured, even if the risk is small. I understand that there are alternatives - why isn't government persuading the manufacturers to use the alternatives? I'm sure most people wouldn't want to be exposed to this chemical, no matter how small the risk is. Please could you publish some guidelines for mothers?