A new Health Canada study found that bottles marketed as “BPA-free” actually leach the hormone-disrupting chemical into liquids.
The study says that these bottles contain “trace amounts”, but some sources cite an internal memo, which says that two brands contain “high doses”.
For their part, bottle manufacturers claim that the study must have been performed wrong.
Many manufacturers rushed to make BPA-free bottles and sippy cups after Canada banned the endocrine disruptor from gear for young children and babies. Although the U.S. hasn’t banned BPA, consumers here have benefited from our Northern neighbor’s efforts, as companies don’t generally want to make product of different chemical compositions for similar markets.
But now, it seems we were all a bit duped by “BPA-free” claims. Health Canada tested 9 different brands of bottles, and all seemed to leach at least trace amounts. Scientists aren’t sure whether this was a byproduct of the manufacturing process, and asked that this matter be studied further.
They also won’t give the brand names of the companies teted, especially the two with the highest amounts.
And they’re generally still considered safer than the alternatives. According to the Winnipeg Free Press:
Since these “BPA-free” bottles leached less than polycarbonate plastic bottles under conditions designed to simulate repeated normal use, the government researchers concluded these bottles made of polysulfone, polystyrene or polypropylene (non-PC) are a “reasonable alternative” to the banned polycarbonate (PC) bottles.
Me? I think I’ll try to go for stainless steel or glass. I wonder if Mason jars come with a sippy top?
Image: pfly on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.
That should just tell us to try to ban any kinds of plastic from our kitchens. The safest way is and always was glass or stainless steel. It lasts longer anyway so safes money in the end.
thank god my boobs don’t produce bpa and that DS hasn’t taken to a bottle. this is all a big mess.
Hmmm – someone could make some money making mason jar sippy tops!
@Kevin. I do read ZRecs, which came out with their awesome blog post after this news was discovered (and after I published this in the first place). ZRecs has been a great guide at the forefront of avoiding BPA.
And also, soon Health Canada will release the findings of the actual levels of BPA in the bottles they tested (and which bottles, as I understand it).
Interestingly, I also work for a retail store that carries your products, and I don’t recall mentioning “thinkbaby”. Actually, I was thinking that these “non-BPA-free” bottles were probably made some of the companies that were quick to jump on the “BPA-free” bandwagon. NOT the ones that started out of a wish to provide safer products.
Wow. Don’t be so sensitive. I wasn’t talking about–or even thinking about–your product.
AND recycling my thinkbaby bottles…*now*. They crack easily anyway.
Still looking for a company that will make a sippy lid for my small Mason jars, which are damn near indestructible. Anyone, anyone?
From thinkbaby
We received results yesterday from Health Canada. The results show that we are a complete non detect for BPA across all fields of testing.
Prior to publishing articles, it would be advisable to conduct research instead of simply blogging.
We recommend reading blogs like ZRecommends.com
Best,
Kevin Brodwick
founder of thinkbaby
Just put a sippy cup lid on a small mason jar. They fit!
I have Sjogren’s Syndrome, Lichen Planus (no official diagnosis), and slew of other health issues. Over the last two years my body started becoming or should I say rejecting soaps, laundry soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, food, and most recently plastic. I noticed my mouth getting yeast infections along with sores that wouldn’t go away. We now know it is the Sjogren’s and Lichen Planus that started it but what really caused the problems were the plastic bottles I was constantly drinking out of plastic containers and bottles. Now I am staying away from plastic. I am drinking out of a glass now, but I am using a straw. The sores have gone away with a weekly dose of diflucan, and if needed a benedryl/maalox mouthwash.
I had surgery this last Monday and the sores are back, so I am not sure if it is due to the surgery, using different straws, or what. Now it is time to investigate what caused a flare-up in my mouth.
We have been switching a lot of our home stuff to stainless steel. We are trying to find stainless steel drinking glasses, especially for traveling, that don’t have plastic tops.
Your article was very informative, thank you!