Could the BPA era of chemically altering our children finally be over? Oh, how we have ranted over the years! From autism to erectile dysfunction, BPA has been linked to many harmful health effects. Hopefully that is all about to end thanks to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, who have introduced the BPA-Free Kids Act.
The Epoch Times reports many reasons why BPA should be banned:
- BPA poses major health risks that affect reproduction and neural development because the chemical mimics estrogen.
- Infants and toddlers have the highest risk because they have the highest level of exposure at a time when risks to reproduction and neural development are greatest.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that 95 percent of Americans tested have BPA levels at or above levels that cause abnormalities in animals.
- Studies on lab animals and BPA have shown a link between obesity, infertility, behavioral changes, miscarriages, prostrate problems, and cancer.
The BPA-Free Kids Act aims to protect our children by labeling products containing BPA as “banned hazardous substances”. Senator Schumer, referring to a recent Consumer Reports study on BPA, explains:
This study adds to the mounting evidence that BPA is not only harmful for our children but for an overwhelming majority of Americans. There have been enough warning signs about the dangers of this chemical that we cannot sit idly by and continue to allow residents across New York City to be exposed. We need to keep this dangerous chemical out of the food chain.
Under Schumer and Gillibrand’s legislation, the manufacturing and sale of all food and beverage products for infants and toddlers containing BPA would be prohibited and enforceable by “criminal or civil penalties”. Unfortunately, this bill may not go far enough by only targeting products for young children. Toddlers often eat what their parents prepare, which may come from canned goods laced with BPA, for example. It is impossible to protect young children from BPA exposure by limiting the ban to products specifically designed for early childhood. Senator Feinstein’s has introduced a bill that would ban BPA from all food and beverage products, but Schumer feels the likelihood of passing a ban is greater if it focuses on young children solely.
Hello,
During my pregnancy I’ve been avoiding canned food and other items containing BPA, but was recently told that the lining of such creams as Weleda’s Skin Food might also contain BPA and be absorbed into the skin. I wrote to them but haven’t heard back. Do you have any more information on this?
Thanks!
Warmly,
Baraka
@Baraka. I have no info; I am sorry. I would be cautious about any tube that is aluminum, as it would need a lining to prevent leaching. I loved Weleda diaper cream when my babes were young, so it would make me very sad to think their tubes contain BPA, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
Thanks for your reply! The creams are in aluminum tubes so that makes me sad. Will have to find some good creams in glass jars now…
PS – Let me know if you have suggestions – thanks! 🙂
Thanks for this blog post. As more and more studies come out highlighting the risks of BPA, it is clear that this is a chemical to be avoided at all costs, especially for expectant moms and children. I work in communications at Weleda and wanted to respond to the queries here regarding our aluminum packaging. We use aluminum tubes for some of our products because it keeps light from reaching the product and does not react with the formulas inside, which is important for maintaining quality since we don’t use any chemical preservatives. Our packaging manufacturer has confirmed that the resin coating used to line our aluminum tubes is free of Bisphenol A. This chemical is not present in our packaging or our product formulations. If you have any additional questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at community@weleda.com. Thank you!