Consumer power has seen major suppliers of baby bottles here say they’re phasing out the use of the controversial chemical Bisphenol A (BPA).
The announcement follows a decision by Australian supermarkets and major retailers to phase out BPA baby bottles from 1 July. Similar withdrawals have previously been announced in the US and Canada, and in some European countries.
Consumer NZ welcomes the phase-out. But we also want to see supermarkets and other retailers of baby products take immediate steps to source BPA-free bottles, feeding cups and packaging for baby foods.
Foodstuffs, which includes New World and Pak'n Save supermarkets, has told us it has no plans to withdraw any BPA products. Progressive Enterprises, which runs Countdown and Woolworths, says it supports the suppliers' phase-out of BPA but doesn't plan any additional action.
Safety risk
We've been calling for a temporary ban on baby bottles, feeding cups and baby-food packaging containing BPA until more is known about the safety risk this chemical poses for infants.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand says it's evaluated the safety of BPA in baby bottles and concluded that levels of intake are very low and do not pose a risk to babies' health. However, further research on the chemical is being done by the US Food and Drug Administration.
BPA belongs to a group of substances that can act in a similar way to some hormones. It's possible for small amounts of BPA in bottles and other food containers to leach out. This is usually at very low levels but there are concerns that even low levels of BPA may be potentially harmful.
Consumer demand
Food and Grocery Council Chief Executive Katherine Rich says the voluntary phase-out here is in response to consumer demand, not product safety.
Rich says all major suppliers of baby bottles are now phasing out BPA. Wattie's is also phasing out BPA in its baby-food packaging.
More from consumer.org.nz
- Concern over chemicals in plastic - our May news item calling for a temporary ban on baby products containing BPA
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Great that BPA is being phased out of bottles, but has Consumer looked into the issue of BPA in plates, bowls, freezer trays and containers marketed for baby food? Anything nasty in gladwrap?
Baby is breastfed, but I have been using standard icetrays and silicone muffin tins for freezing mashed & moulied first foods, but then heat it in baby's (crockery) bowl in microwave with gladwrap on top....