New Research Reveals Hidden Dangers In Formula Cans
Please read this post if you or someone you know uses baby formula!
This morning I participated in a conference call hosted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) about their new report about the dangers of BPA exposure in formula-fed babies.
You can read the full report for all the details, but here are some of the highlights:
The Scary Stuff
--Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical. Scientists at the NIH have expressed concern about impacts of BPA on infants' brains and behavior. BPA has been linked to cancer, early-onset puberty, obesity, and Type II diabetes.
--An investigation by EWG estimated that 1 of every 16 infants fed ready-to-eat liquid formula would be exposed to the chemical at doses exceeding those that caused harm in laboratory studies.
--According to a EWG survey, the makers of Nestlé, Similac, Enfamil and PBM (who make store-brand formulas sold at WalMart, Target, Kroger and dozens of other retailers) all said that they use BPA in the linings of metal cans holding liquid formula.
--BPA is widely used in powdered formula containers as well. Every manufacturer except Nestlé said it uses a BPA-based lining on the metal portions of their powdered formula cans. Nestlé failed to provide EWG with reliable documentation of their alternative packaging, and thus is not a clear improvement over other types.
--Powdered formula sold by Enfamil and Similac are reduced-risk choices, because only the metal tops and bottoms of their packages – not the cardboard sides – are metal and lined with BPA-based plastic. Earth's Best Organic and PBM (which make dozens of store brands) are more of a concern: they are sold in an entirely metal can, which means the formula has more contact with a BPA-coated surface.
What Parents Can Do
Avoid all ready-to-eat liquid formulas in metal cans.
Opt for powdered formula over liquid.
Use glass bottles.
Avoid plastic liners.
Use filtered water.
Warm bottles in a pan of hot water.
And remember, if you are using formula, POWDERED is safer than liquid!
Read more about what parents can do, here, in EWG's Parent's Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles and Formula.
How to Take Action
EWG is calling on parents to contact formula companies and tell them to remove BPA from their formula cans. Click here for e-mail addresses to all the major formula companies, along with a sample e-mail.
Questions?
If you have a question about this study that you would like to ask EWG researcher Sonya Lunder, who conducted the study, leave me a comment and she has promised to respond. Thank you, Sonya and EWG!
This morning I participated in a conference call hosted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) about their new report about the dangers of BPA exposure in formula-fed babies.
You can read the full report for all the details, but here are some of the highlights:
The Scary Stuff
--Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical. Scientists at the NIH have expressed concern about impacts of BPA on infants' brains and behavior. BPA has been linked to cancer, early-onset puberty, obesity, and Type II diabetes.
--An investigation by EWG estimated that 1 of every 16 infants fed ready-to-eat liquid formula would be exposed to the chemical at doses exceeding those that caused harm in laboratory studies.
--According to a EWG survey, the makers of Nestlé, Similac, Enfamil and PBM (who make store-brand formulas sold at WalMart, Target, Kroger and dozens of other retailers) all said that they use BPA in the linings of metal cans holding liquid formula.
--BPA is widely used in powdered formula containers as well. Every manufacturer except Nestlé said it uses a BPA-based lining on the metal portions of their powdered formula cans. Nestlé failed to provide EWG with reliable documentation of their alternative packaging, and thus is not a clear improvement over other types.
--Powdered formula sold by Enfamil and Similac are reduced-risk choices, because only the metal tops and bottoms of their packages – not the cardboard sides – are metal and lined with BPA-based plastic. Earth's Best Organic and PBM (which make dozens of store brands) are more of a concern: they are sold in an entirely metal can, which means the formula has more contact with a BPA-coated surface.
What Parents Can Do
Avoid all ready-to-eat liquid formulas in metal cans.
Opt for powdered formula over liquid.
Use glass bottles.
Avoid plastic liners.
Use filtered water.
Warm bottles in a pan of hot water.
And remember, if you are using formula, POWDERED is safer than liquid!
Read more about what parents can do, here, in EWG's Parent's Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles and Formula.
How to Take Action
EWG is calling on parents to contact formula companies and tell them to remove BPA from their formula cans. Click here for e-mail addresses to all the major formula companies, along with a sample e-mail.
Questions?
If you have a question about this study that you would like to ask EWG researcher Sonya Lunder, who conducted the study, leave me a comment and she has promised to respond. Thank you, Sonya and EWG!
posted by Cristina @1:49 PM
10 Comments:
You were on the call? You should have said hi silly! :)
Great post -- we'll link it over at LMJ!
Thanks. I passed this along to some friends who have little ones.
I cannot believe this!
Thanks for the link, Kristen. Your transcript of the call was great, btw!
Do you know if RTF formula in the plastic bottles is safe? I have friends who use that and they'd like to know.
Well good goddamn. I'm sick of this. I have just been browsing the Internet looking for glass alternatives to my plastic bottles, and I don't know that I'll be able to find something that's compatible with the Dr. Brown's inserts that I swear helped Gabe with some digestion problems he had at first and I've planned to use again.
Now this. I can't get away from this BPA shit and it's pissing me off! Dr. Browns is supposed to be releasing Glass bottles anytime now, and I'm looking at baby #2 arriving in about 5 weeks, if not sooner. Now the formula that I HAVE to rely on since I don't produce breast milk may be problematic? WTF?
There. That's my question. WHAT THE FUCK!?!?
Sorry for the profanity. But this really twists my unders in a bunch and tightens.
Little Bald Doctors
goddamn.
goddamn.
also, Andrea, you're the first person I thought of when I read this: what about women who simply don't have the means to feed their babies anything but formula? what about them?
goddammit.
Andrea, I am sorry. This shit really is frustrating. You can swear all you want. I totally understand. And yeah, BPA is everywhere. It's even in our canned food. WTF?
How scary!!
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