Many countries are banning the use of the chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) in the production of baby bottles due to health concerns. Canada banned BPA in 2009. Whilst this month:
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.
Continue reading “Steps towards banning BPA from baby bottles” →
Question: Help, I’ve been using polycarbonate bottles for my baby and have just found out about BPA. What can I do?
Answer
Many mums are concerned that their child may have been exposed to the chemical BPA in plastic baby bottles. Fortunately scientists are researching how to block the potential damage done by BPA.
Preliminary research from Duke University in the US indicates that folate (found in most green leafy vegetables (such as spinach) and genistein (found in legumes like soy) can block BPA damage.
Continue reading “My child has been exposed to BPA in baby bottles. What can I do?” →
On the 30th of November 2009, an Early Day Motion, BISPHENOL A AND BABY BOTTLES, was submitted for debate in the House of Commons. Breast Cancer UK has published a letter to Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, from a group of scientists backing its No More BPA Campaign. This was supported with the results of its survey of 2000 adults showing that 79 per cent agreed that “it is important that the UK Government acts in a precautionary way when it comes to protecting babies and very young children from BPA”.
The Canadian Government and bottle manufacturers in the United States have already taken action to remove BPA from baby bottles. However, The Food Standard Agency considers exposure of UK consumers to bisphenol A (BPA) to be well below levels considered harmful.
The FSA “has estimated that a three-month-old bottle-fed baby that weighs around 6 kg would need to consume more than four times the usual number of bottles of baby formula a day before it would reach the tolerable daily amount. This amount that can be eaten every day, over a whole lifetime, without causing appreciable harm.”
So, what does Mindful Mum think…
Mindful Mum believes that the FSA is missing a vital factor in their analysis — parent behaviour!
Continue reading “Campaign for Removal of BPA from British Baby Bottles” →
