BPA is widely used in the production of plastic baby bottles. Photograph: Flickr

The low down

BPA (or Bisphenol-A) is a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resin, both of which are used in a variety of products from household appliances and computers (polycarbonate) to industrial flooring and adhesives (epoxy resin). Of the two common forms BPA is found in, polycarbonate has been used in the production of baby bottles.

An official website concerning BPA (www.bisephenol-a.org) maintains that after extensive, and continuous, research, there is no risk of harmful health affects to humans from exposure to products containing BPA. Further studies, however, have revealed that BPA leeches from plastic when it is heated, and that low doses of BPA exposure has been linked to “obesity, diabetes, thyroid disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer and other illnesses”.

The reaction

As of 1 March 2011, the EU has placed a ban “prohibiting the manufacture in the European Union of baby bottles containing Bisphenol A (BPA) substance”.

The aftermath

The EU banning BPA is all well and good, however, with them out of the picture, baby bottle manufacturers who use BPA must look else ware to sell their product.

According to the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) “[s]ix US manufacturers are removing BPA from bottles sold in the US, but not from other markets”, meaning that while infants in the developed world will be safe from BPA contamination, those in the developing world will not be afford the same treatment. According to the IBFAN, manufacturers have “intensified promotion” of their products containing BPA in places such as Malaysia and Africa in a “misguided attempt[s] to glamorize baby bottles”, in the hopes, one assumes, that viewers would be too dazzled by celebrities and claims of the products being “natural” to do research on the bottles or pay attention to the actions of western governments.

Unfortunately, I believe it will only take time until BPA baby bottles are eradicated completely, and in the mean time, breast feeding where possible seems the best option, no matter where you are in the world.

Sources:

Mommy Off The Record
The International Baby Food Action Network
Bisphenol A: EU ban on use in baby bottles enters into force next week

Photograph: Flickr Nerissa’s Ring

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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

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Folic acid in spinach helps to block BPA damage

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.

What is BPA?

BPA is a chemical estrogen found in hard plastics and in the lining of many food tins. BPA used in plastic bottles and other dish wear can leach into food or drink when it is heated. Recent studies in animals show that even small amounts can be linked to health problems including obesity, cancer and early puberty.

Read the following posts  on BPA free baby bottles and BPA free weaning equipment or download Avoiding BPA in Baby Bottles for more information.

Blocking BPA damage

The researchers have found that they can block BPA damage by giving pregnant animals extra folate or genistein. BPA affects the epigentics in offspring, turning on and off diferent genes, resulting in health problems. The nutrients in folate or genistein nullify these effects by switching the genes back. Although the research is preliminary the evidence is compelling that certain nutrient can counteract BPA when given during pregnancy. Based on this, the researchers propose that these nutrients may also block the effects of chemical estrogen exposures if given in childhood an possible even in adulthood.

Green leafy vegetables

Folate or folic acid is an important nutrient that we get from our food every day because our body cannot make it. It is recommended in pregnancy because it helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida in unborn babies. It also has a critical role in working together with vitamin B12 to form heathy red blood cells. This research gives us another reason to eat leafy green vegetables. Whilst soy is also thought to have a similar benefit as folic acid, parents should be cautious because soy is known to cause allergies and is not recommended for infant formula unless prescribed by your GP.

Folic acid

Folic acid, known as folate in its natural form, is one of the B-group of vitamins. Folate is found in small amounts in many foods. Good sources include;

• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Asparagus
• Peas
• Chickpeas
• Brown rice

Download Sources of Folic Acid for information on how to get folic acid into your diet naturally.

Other useful sources include fortified breakfast cereals, some bread and some fruit (such as oranges and bananas.)

Sources:

Dr Alan Greene, MD, FAAP, What If You Already Used BPA? BPA Protection: Spinach and Soy, 2010
Washington Post, Folate Shields Fetus Against Chemical in Plastics, 2007
Dolinoy, D.C., Huang, D., and Jirtle, R.L. Maternal Nutrient Counteracts Bisphenol-A 2007
FSA, Eat Well Be Well, Folic Acid

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3. Steps towards banning BPA from baby bottles

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!

It appears that the FSA analysis is based on the parent waiting 30 minutes before adding the boiled water to the plastic baby bottle.

• In practice the behaviour of parents making up the formula is ‘unlikely’ to follow the exact instructions on milk formula cartons or the current FSA advice.
• In reality, most parents who have a baby screaming for milk at 2.30 am in the morning are unlikely to wait the required 30 minutes.
• The more ‘likely’ behaviour is that they add the boiling hot water directly into the baby bottle, spoon in the required formula, shake and cool in a bowl of cold water.
• Furthermore, I know many mum’s that heat their bottle in the microwave

The British Government should ban bisphenol a (BPA) because it is widely known to leach out of plastic bottles at high temperatures. Boiling water causes BPA to leave from bottles levels 55 times faster than normal temperatures. In practice many British consumers will be adding boiling water to polycarbonate baby bottles.  We do not know if the FSA analysis uses new bottles or older bottles. The difference could be significant as scratched or worn bottles can leach up to nearly double that of new bottles.

Mindful Mum  supports the  ’No More BPA’ campaign led by Breast Cancer UK and backed by the NCT, UNISON, the Women’s Environmental Network, the Cancer Prevention and Education Society and CHEM Trust; and urges the Government to introduce regulations to end the use of BPA in baby bottles sold in the UK.

So, we’ve heard from the scientists, charities, environmentalists and government agency, FSA. What do Mums and Dads think…?

Please share with Mindful Mum how you make up your baby’s bottle using the poll on Mindful Mum. This will help us to understand how parents behaviour may or may not differ from the guidelines provided by the FSA.

If you are  concerned about your baby bottles please find details of BPA free baby bottles available in the UK on Mindful Mum and the Mindful Mum Safe Baby Store on Amazon.

Why is it important for the UK Government to Ban BPA?

The FSA advice for parents is not to pour boiling liquid directly into bottles, not to microwave them or use scratched or worn ones.

These guidelines may prevent BPA from leaching into baby milk formula in theory. However, in practice, consumer behaviour is likely to be different and by not banning BPA the government is putting babies at risk from the known endocrine disruptor, bisphenol a (BPA).

• Hundreds of studies and evaluations published in peer-reviewed medical journals have raised consistent and compelling concerns about the potential impact of low level exposure of this chemical.
• The Environmental Health Perspectives Journal in March 2009 published a letter from 36 of the world’s leading scientific experts on BPA, criticising the European Food Safety Authority for relying predominantly on two outdated studies funded by the chemicals industry and saying that its decisions based on this logic are misguided and will result in continued risk to public health from exposure to BPA.
• Babies in their first year have not fully developed the ability to clear BPA from their bodies as quickly as adults.
• Bisphenol A, is a potentially toxic chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic bottles. Scientists and health activists are concerned about its effects because animal studies show that BPA can interfere with the development and cause irreversible damage. BPA has interfered with the development of every system in which it has been tested. The earlier the exposure, the greater the damage. Accumulating laboratory evidence suggests that exposure to BPA could be linked to breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, obesity, ADHD, and autism.

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