Super Eco

Photo credit: brokinhrt2, flickr

Despite continuing to claim that Bisphenol-A (BPA) is not harmful to humans, six major manufacturers have caved to swelling consumer concern to announce that they will stop selling new baby bottles containing BPA in the United States. The announcement came after Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and other northeastern state attorneys general wrote the companies asking them to voluntarily stop using the controversial chemical.

"The evidence seems too clear and emphatic and unequivocal to say we should simply permit this stuff to go into children on a massive scale," Blumenthal said. "And there's no reason for it, because there are substitutes available."

BPA is an endocrine disruptor that mimics the hormone estrogen and has been linked with fetal abnormalities, breast cancer, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities. The National Institutes of Health's National Toxicology Program recently reaffirmed that current research supports concerns regarding BPA's effects on infants and children. However, the FDA continues to classify BPA as safe. "Unfortunately, the regulatory agency charged with protecting the public health continues to rely on industry-based research to arrive at its conclusions, rather than examining the totality of scientific evidence," said Rep. John D. Dingell, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is investigating the FDA's stance on BPA.

Despite the lack of regulatory clarity, consumer pressure has been mounting. Late last year, Babies R Us and other major retailers told suppliers they would no longer stock baby bottles made with BPA. Canada has already banned BPA from baby bottles.

Six companies have agreed to stop using BPA in baby bottles sold in the United States:

• Gerber
• Avent America, Inc.
• Evenflo Co.
• Disney First Years
• Dr. Brown
• Playtex Products, Inc.

We wish we could announce a related recall—but alas, the news isn't quite that bright. Existing BPA-containing baby bottles are not being recalled, nor is current stock being removed from store shelves. Bottles currently being sold do contain BPA. There's no word as to whether the six manufacturers will continue to sell BPA-containing bottles outside of the United States.