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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1. Campaign for Removal of BPA from British Baby Bottles
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3. BPA Free Bottles Available in UK

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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1. Folic acid pregnancy
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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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1. Canada bans BPA to Protect Families
2. Bisphenol-A (BPA) in Baby Bottles
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But, and it’s a big but…

The manufacturers are going to continue selling bottles containing BPA in the UK.  How do you choose a safe BPA free baby bottle for your baby if you live in the UK?

Follow the Mindful Mum steps to ensure BPA free baby bottle feeding.

Know your Chemicals. What is BPA?

BPA is the abbreviation for Bisphenol-A. It is a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic. Polycarbonate is a common plastic and is used to make baby bottles, food storage containers and children’s toys. When boiling water is poured into polycarbonate bottles to mix formula BPA can leach into baby’s milk.

Scientists have found that Bisphenol-A mimics the hormone oestrogen in animals and many environmental bodies believe that BPA can cause harmful effects in humans, including early puberty in children, cancer, diabetes and obesity. In 2009 the Canadian Government banned the production of BPA in plastics due to toxicity concerns.

Review your options for safe alternatives

Many manufacturers are producing BPA free bottles in addition to conventional polycarbonate bottles. Some manufacturers such as BornFree have only ever produced BPA free glass bottles and plastic bottles.

• Consider the benefits of glass baby bottles – no leaching, non-permeable and recyclable
• Review the BPA free plastic bottles that are made from polypropylene and polyethylene

Tailor Bottle Features to Meet Your Baby’s Needs

Look for specific features that suit your baby and your lifestyle, for example:

• Anti-colic features such as a vent aim to reduce the amount of air swallowed by babies that suffer from colic or wind
• Number of parts and ease of washing and assembly
• Check BPA free baby bottle table to compare features of each bottle

Quick Checklist

• Check for a BPA Free label on the box – do not assume that they are all automatically BPA free.
• Use silicon nipples
• Never heat bottles in the microwave
• Throw away scratched or worn out bottles
• Check out the  avoiding BPA guide

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Looking for a BPA free plastic bottle to feed baby? Mindful Mum selects the top BPA free baby bottles available in the UK.

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Dr Brown’s has launched a BPA free bottle in the UK made from polypropylene (PP). The bottle is also available in glass.

Dr Brown’s are often recommended for babies that suffer from colic. Dr Brown’s bottles have an inner vent tube to prevent vacuum and air bubbles. Unfortunately the inner tube that does such a good job of keeping air separate from the milk can also be a source of leaks if used incorrectly.

Quality

The bottle was designed by a doctor in 1996 and patented in 1997. Dr Brown’s offers parents the option of both wide and standard neck bottles. The design of the bottle means that air never mixes with the breastmilk or formula.  Dr Brown’s company Handi-craft has funded research that shows that their design minimizes oxidation and helps maintain essential nutrients like vitamins C, A and E.*

[rating:5/5]

Ease of Use

Because of the separate anti-colic parts the bottle takes longer to assemble. Do not warm the bottle with the teat and vent tube installed as it may cause the heated liquid to rise up the vent tube cause the leaks.

[rating:2/5]

Cleaning

Even though the bottle comes with a brush to clean the inner vent it is still tricky to clean and takes longer than the average bottle. Depending on what steriliser you have, it maybe a squeeze to get all the parts in. Check dimensions of bottle, parts and your steriliser before buying Dr Brown’s bottles.

[rating:2/5]

[rating:overall]

Key Benefit: On top of anti-colic benefit the volume measurements are easy to read.

Disappointing Feature: Extra anti-colic parts difficult to clean, especially the inner tube.

Manufacturer Information:

Dr Brown’s bottles are made by an American company called Handi-craft. Handi-Craft Company was formerly known as Telephonic Toys, Inc. The company was incorporated in 1963 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Until recently most of the bottles were made in Germany and China. Dr Brown’s now states that ‘most’ of its glass and polypropylene bottles are made in the USA.

Please note that the Nutrient Study conducted by lactation expert Dr Francis on bottle design and oxidation of nutrients was funded by Handi-Craft, the company based in the USA that owns Dr Brown’s.

Our safe baby bottles matrix provides a comparison of BPA free baby bottles available in the UK.

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1. Philips Avent Natural BPA Free Bottle Review (redirect)
2. Dr Browns BPA Free Bottle (redirect)
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Philips Avent have launced a BPA Free plastic bottle. The anti-colic feature is in built into the teat. There are only three parts for the Avent bottle making it quick to assemble and clean. The bottles have a wide neck and a silicone vari-flow teat. Easy to use bottle. Shame about the leaking.

Quality

Philips Avent BPA free bottles are made from Polyether Sulphone (PES). PES is plastic is honey coloured and durable. PES is ideal for the construction of baby bottles because it can be safely and easily sterilised. Note that although PES is BPA-Free it is in the number 7 recycling category because it did not fit well into other categories.
[rating:4/5]

Ease of Use

With only three parts the bottles are easy to put together when you have a fretful baby watching your every move. Every time I used the bottle it leaked. Fed up of dripping milk everywhere I’ve marked the bottle down specifically because they are so messy.
[rating:2/5]

Cleaning

Easy to clean and fit in steriliser with room to spare.
[rating:5/5]

[rating:overall]

Key Benefit: Less parts to assemble and clean.

Disappointing Feature: Leaky bottle problems mean soaking wet baby.

The Mindful Mum list of baby feeding bottles highlights BPA free bottles available in the UK.

Manufacturer Information:

Avent was founded in 1984 with the aim to create a new type of baby bottle. In 2006 Philips joined with AVENT and the company became Philips AVENT. 90% of Avent products are made in Suffolk, UK. Philips Avent uses polycarbonate in some of its bottles so check that you are selecting the PES BPA Free version of the bottles. See below for bottle range and plastic materials used.

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In response to public demand Tommee Tippee launched a BPA-Free version of the ‘Closer to Nature’ baby bottle in January 2009. The Closer to Nature range is now available in ‘polypropylene’ which is BPA Free.

After accidentally leaving my usual bottles at my mothers, I bought the BPA Free Tommee Tippee plastic bottles as a stop gap. Running through the supermarket I remembered a friend recommending them for breast feeding mums and grabbed them off the shelf. Overall I was disappointed with the bottles. It was difficult to read the measurements and the bottles were difficult to clean.

Quality

The bottles feel good to hold and are not as heavy as glass bottles. Due to their squat shape they do not fit as easily into the bottle compartment of my changing bag.

[rating:3/5]

Ease of Use

Reading the measurements on the side of the bottle is difficult and very frustrating at 3 o’clock in the morning preparing for a night feed.  It takes a bit of practice to get the teat to fit within the collar without pulling it completely through. With only 3 parts they are easy and quick to put together.

[rating:2/5]

Cleaning

Despite my best efforts to clean the bottles in soapy water I felt a greasy residue was left.  They never felt as clean as glass bottles. Having only 3 parts to assemble is a plus point.

[rating:2.5/5]

[rating:overall]

Key Benefit: Shape of bottle aims to resemble mothers breast to ease transition from breast to bottle.

Disappointing Feature: Even after cleaning in soapy water a greasy residue is left on inside of bottles.

Manufacturer Information

Tommee Tippee is made by the Mayborn Group which was bought by venture capital firm 3i in mid-2006.

Product Information

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles feature easi-vent teats which encourages your baby’s natural feeding, to make switching between breast and bottle easier than ever before. The unique shape of the Closer to Nature Easi-vent teat encourages your baby’s natural feeding action so that switching between breast and bottle becomes second nature. The bottles have been designed to be held in the most natural positions during feeding and can be held in three ways: cradled comfortably in the hand, gripped in the same way as a traditional wide neck bottle and held from the base; making feeding comfortable for both mum and dad. Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles are BPA free.

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MAM Ultivent bottles have a wide neck and an anti-colic vent at the base of the bottle for an uninterrupted flow of milk to your baby. The silk teat is made of soft silicon which helps baby in the transition between bottle and Mum’s breast. Good bottles but a bit of a struggle to put together due to separate parts.

Quality

MAM bottles are BPA Free and are made of polypropylene.  The teat is great for a baby with a small mouth and I would recommend these to anyone having problems getting their baby to take a bottle. They come in eye-catching colours and are available in four different sizes.

[rating:4/5]

Ease of Use

I did find their was a tendency for these bottles to leak and it is important to ensure that the anti-vent part at the bottom of the bottle is screwed on properly to avoid leaks.

[rating:3/5]

Cleaning

With five parts to clean and assemble MAM bottles do seem a bit fiddly to begin with.  The separate parts also take up a lot of room in the steriliser.

[rating:2/5]

[rating:overall]

Key Benefit: Soft teat helps baby make transition between Mum and bottle.

Disappointing Feature: Tendency for anti-colic base to leak.

Manufacturer Information:

MAM was founded in Austria in 1976 and they have over 400 employees in locations across the globe.

The MAM bottle has a self seal lid for spill proof travel. Eliminates need for sealing cap. The wide neck provides easy filling, with an easy to read scale for accurate measuring in ml/oz. Anticolic MAM Ultivent valve constantly controls the flow of air into the bottle by reacting to the demands made by baby. Removable base for easy cleaning. Suitable for use in all sterilisers. .

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Buy BornFree™ Bottles
From £12.99 for Twin Pack 160 ml (5 fl oz)

The bottles also come in  twin-pack 260ml (9oz.) for £13.99. They have a wide neck , are made of Bisphenol-A Free plastic. They have an innovative air vent that helps eliminate colic symptoms.  Each bottle comes with a level 1 teat and a cover.

After a four week struggle with breast feeding, I bought a BPA free breast pump and searched online for safe glass bottles.  After checking out US blog sites dedicated to non-toxic baby bottles I found BornFree who had started operating in the UK and provided both BPA-free plastic bottles and glass bottles.  I purchased glass bottles online and they arrived on time and well packaged.

Quality

All BornFree products are 100% BPA-Free.  They are also free from Phtalates and PVC, all of which is very clearly labelled on the packaging.   My four week old baby son took to the bottles very well.  There are five different teat flows available.  My son is now 5 months old and although I have tried him with the faster flow teat he refuses every flow apart from the original level 1 teat that came with the bottles.

[rating:5/5]

Ease of Use

The measurements are clear and easy to read on the plastic bottles but more difficult to read on the glass bottles. The bottle has six parts including the bottle cap, is easy and quick to assemble.

[rating:4/5]

Cleaning

The separate parts wash well in the top rack of the dishwasher and also in soapy water.   There is no sticky residue left on the glass bottles. I bought a microwave sterilizer and bottle brushes online from BornFree.  I called the UK office and they helpfully gave me the dimensions of the sterilizer so that I work out if it would fit in my small microwave.  Don’t be put off by the yellow tinge to the plastic bottles. If you prefer a cleaner looking bottle the glass bottles are clear and very easy to clean.

[rating:4/5]

UK Availability

I travelled to four different ‘Babies R Us’ stores in an attempt to buy the glass bottles but they only had the plastic BPA free bottles in stock.  I now use the plastic bottles when ‘out and about’ and the glass bottles at home.

[rating:2/5]

[rating:overall]

Key Benefit: Option of excellent anti-colic glass bottle, which is the safest option.

Disappointing Feature: Glass bottles are heavier to carry and inevitably more prone to breakage.

Manufacturer Information:

BornFree™ has developed a range of products baby bottles, cups and accessories that is totally free of the potentially dangerous chemicals Bisphenol-A (BPA), Phthalates and PVC.

BornFree UK Website

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