Baby Bottle Maker Sued
An Arkansas woman has filed suit against Playtex Products because of the use of the chemical bisphenol A in its plastic baby bottles. The lawsuit seeks nationwide class-action status to represent what it says are thousands of people who bought plastic bottles containing the chemical from Playtex or other companies.
Bisphenol A is a chemical found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are used in a variety of products such as compact discs, medical devices, food and drink containers including water bottles and baby bottles, helmets and goggles just to name a few. Epoxy resins are used to line metals products such as bottle caps and food cans.
Is it safe? The American Chemistry Council thinks it is. They claim that the only research done has been on animals and that the human exposure is extremely small and not a hazard to human health.
"Consumers would have to eat more than 500 pounds of food and beverages in contact with polycarbonate plastic or epoxy resins every day of their lives to exceed exposure levels determined to be safe by the European Food Safety Authority and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," states the American Chemistry Council, adding that typical human exposure to bisphenol A "is approximately 1,000 times below the safe exposure levels."
The Canadian government, to be prudent, proposes banning bisphenol A in polycarbonate baby bottles and taking other steps to reduce bisphenol A exposure in babies even though they feel that exposure is below risk levels.
The National Institute of Environmental Health suggests the following tips for those who want to limit their exposure to Bisphenol A.
1) Use baby bottles that are free of bisphenol A.
2) Reduce your use of canned foods.
3) Don't microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Polycarbonate plastic is strong and durable, but over time it may break down from use at high temperatures.
4) When possible, opt for glass, porcelain, or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.
The lawsuit filed in Connecticut last week contends that there are hundreds of studies that have repeatedly shown that bisphenol A can be very toxic even at extremely low levels.
