Bisphenol-a (BPA)

News and New

April 2nd- NCC chastises FDA decision on BPA. Read our statement.

October 13, 2011- NCC applauds FDA's announcement to propose ruling on BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. Read the statement.

October 4th- California Governor Jerry Brown signs a bill banning BPA in baby bottles for children under 3.

October1- France's ecology minister says she will seek labelling for food containers that contain BPA and will propose a ban on products with BPA when safer alternatives exist.

June 9- Connecticut bans BPA in thermal receipt paper. Communly used in retail receipts, BPA can pass from the receipts into the skin of consumers and retail workers.

Bisphenol-a (BPA)

Children, and especially the child a woman is carrying in her womb, are most vulnerable to toxic chemicals. So why are companies putting BPA,a chemical with overwhelming scientific evidence linking it to cancer and other health concerns into baby bottles?

In addition to some plastic baby bottles and water bottles that say "PC" or some of the #7 plastics, BPA has also been found in dental sealants used to coat and protect children’s teeth from cavities, infant baby formula cans, and other aluminum cans. BPA is also in thermal cash receipt paper. This chemical has been linked in animal tests to increased rates of breast and prostate cancer, obesity and type II diabetes, early childhood puberty in girls, behavioral changes in children, cardiovascular disease, and even Alzheimer's disease.

We are making progress to phase this chemical out of products that present significant sources of exposure. In 2008, Nalgene removed BPA from their water bottles. In 2009 major baby bottle manufacturers stopped manufacturing BPA bottles. In 2010, some companies in addition to Eden Foods (who have been producing BPA cans for years) began phasing BPA out of food cans and some infant formula cans.

Eleven states have banned BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups and in some cases baby food containers. In addition to banning it from baby bottles and sippy cups, Canada listed it as a toxic chemical. Denmark and France have also banned BPA in baby bottles, and the European Union is considering a ban. The United States has so far failed to approve a BPA ban so many children remain vulnerable to BPA exposure.

What we can do

Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel drinking containers or look for plastics that have a #1, 2,4 or 5.
Purchase baby bottles or sippy cups with a #1, 2, 4 or 5 on the label
Eat fresh, organizc produce instead of canned food when possible to avoid exposure to BPA in cans.

Learn more

Read a report on bisphenol-a in baby bottles
Our Stolen Future: Bisphenol-A
Five-minute radio program on bisphenol-A on Living on Earth
On the Money report on BPA in money and thermal cash register receipts.
Seeking Safer Packaging report card on can companies' use of BPA.

Bisphenol-a (BPA)

Learn more

Read more about other environmental health topics on the NCC website