 You might have seen the earlier piece I did on BPA and its presence in plastic bottles that we so often eat and drink from. Babies and children are most at risk to BPA’s negative risks when exposed. Baby bottles have been a particular culprit of BPA.
What’s so bad about BPA? In case you did not see the GuideToBetter.com piece on BPA, here is the skinny! BPA, or by its given name: Bisphenol-A, is a chemical that is one of the starting materials for polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a very strong, clear, heat-resistant, remarkably impact-resistant, and nearly unbreakable plastic material.
Sounds great, right? Well, it’s not so great. BPA can leach or migrate from polycarbonate plastic into foods and beverages. BPA is a synthetic sex hormone that mimics estrogen in the body. It continues to get official scrutiny in the US and Canada because of the physiological changes that occur in people’s bodies when they ingest BPA that has leached from plastics into their food. BPA is released from polycarbonate plastic when it is repeatedly scrubbed, dish-washed, microwaved, or boiled. Storing hot liquids in polycarbonate bottles causes BPA migration, as well.
Avoiding BPA. So, now you are thinking, wow, how do I avoid BPA?! You can easily avoid BPA by choosing BPA-free plastics. But even better, you can choose more sustainable materials, like glass. Glass is far more earth-friendly because it is not made from petroleum products and can be recycled again and again.
Are plastic baby bottles affected? Yes, they are. However, there is good news! The major baby bottle brands are now making BPA-free bottles. Many have, in fact, gone green and are selling glass bottles for a safer, greener alternative. I witnessed this myself at Babies – R – Us recently. It was very refreshing to see all the glass alternatives, as well as BPA-free plastic bottles. Babies-R-Us even had a whole section devoted to green alternatives for your baby!
What if I have baby bottles at home that are not BPA-free? There is an easy solution!
Use glass or polypropylene bottles (number 5 on the bottom) instead of polycarbonate (hard, shiny, clear or tinted plastic, usually with a number 7 or “PC” on the underside) bottles.
If you continue to use polycarbonate bottles, do not use harsh detergents and do not put bottles in the dishwasher. Instead, clean them with warm soapy water and a sponge. Scouring
brushes scratch the surface of the bottles and increase leaching rates. Also avoid heating foods and liquids in polycarbonate containers and bottles, as BPA tends to leach faster
under higher temperatures.
The Environmental Working Group has a very handy baby bottle buying guide on their Web site. Here are some of the highlights from the tips they provide:
- Use glass bottles
- Don’t use plastic bottle liners in baby bottles
- Choose powdered formula because BPA can leach into liquid formula from the metal cans it is packaged in and sold.
When your children are a bit older and graduate from bottles to sippie cups, aluminum bottles are an alternative to traditional plastics kids sippie cups. They are more expensive than the plastic variety, but they are much safer and will last forever!
Are other baby feeding products effected? Yes, they are. In addition to avoiding liquid formula sold in metal cans, avoid infant formula brands in cans that use BPA as an epoxy liner. You can cut back on canned foods and beverages to reduce exposure to BPA contamination from the interior coating of the container. Also, you should avoid canned foods with higher fat content, as they may have higher levels of BPA.
BPA exposure goes beyond plastic water bottles and transcends into baby bottles, formulas, and foods. But, the good news is that with the tips here, you can avoid or drastically limit your exposure to this harmful chemical found in plastic and packaging!
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