• Denmark has temporarily banned BPA in materials that come into contact with food for children aged 0-3 years,
• The French Senate backed proposals to ban BPA in baby bottles,
• The US Environmental Protection Agency announced they are to further examine the effects of BPA.

So far, UK movement to ban BPA in baby bottles and materials that come into contact with toddlers food is slow. Any change in policy towards BPA awaits the opinion of the EFSA (European Food Standards Authority) who are currently assessing the relevance of a further study commissioned by the American Chemistry Council. The EFSA opinion is expected in May 2010

Whilst we await the opinion of the EFSA, Mindful Mum provides a comparison of BPA free baby bottles and a guide to BPA free weaning for UK parents wishing to err on the side of caution regarding their children’s health. If you are concerned your child has already been exposed to BPA, see our article on blocking the effects of BPA.

For more information on the ban to remove BPA from UK baby bottles see the No More BPA Campaign.

What is the UK view of BPA?

In the UK, the early day motion, Bisphenol A and Baby Bottles, was submitted in 2009 for debate in the House of Commons as part of the campaign to remove BPA from Baby Bottles in the UK.

The response from the Department of Health, via my Member of Parliament, is as follows:

“The FSA, working closely with the EFSA and the European Commission, has looked into the potential risks from BPA and found that exposure of UK consumers to BPA from all sources, including food contact materials, was well below levels considered harmful.

The FSA has also estimated that a three-month old bottle-fed baby that weighs around six kilograms would need to consume more than four times the usual number of bottles of baby formula a day before he/she would reach the TDI (tolerable daily intake.)

The EFSA is currently assessing the relevance of a further study commissioned by the American Chemistry Council to address concerns raised by the Canadian Government. An opinion is expected from EFSA in May 2010.

The FSA continues to keep the published evidence on BPA under review and will act to protect consumers if the evidence shows that it is necessary to do so.”

What is BPA?

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical component in polycarbonate (PC) bottles and is known to leach from bottles during sterilisation and heating, especially if the bottles are scratched or cracked.  It is suspected that it disturbs the hormonal balance of babies/infants. Laboratory evidence suggests that exposure to BPA could be linked to breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, obesity, ADHD, and autism.

References:

• vom Saal F, Hughes C. 2005. “An extensive new literature concerning low-dose effects of bisphenol A shows the need for a new risk assessment.” Environmental Health Perspectives. 113(8): 926- 933