| Are you using plastic containers or bottles every | | | | there is no way you can completely be free of |
| day to feed your baby... to microwave foods... to | | | | BPA but you can lessen your exposure to it. |
| put your kids lunch in a plastic bag... or to save | | | | If you look on the bottom of the baby bottle (or |
| foods? My guess is you are. | | | | any other plastic container that you use) ... and |
| Unfortunately, more and more information is | | | | see a recycling number "7" (near the triangle), get |
| coming out about the dangers of plastics in food | | | | rid of the bottle as it might contain BPA in it. If |
| preparation or "food saving". The danger is in the | | | | you don't see a number on it, call the |
| plastic.... especially hard plastics such as baby | | | | manufacturer and ask them what number it is. |
| bottles... sports bottles... and microwave dishes. | | | | Here is a list of what are considered to be the |
| The problem is "BPA" (bisphenol A)... one of the | | | | safest baby or sports bottles to use as they |
| most produced chemicals in the world. BPA is | | | | have not been shown to leak toxins... |
| found in plastic... and what happens is when you | | | | Rubbermaid ChuggablesBottles, Rubbermaid Sippin' |
| put food or drink in the plastic bottle or container, | | | | Sport Bottles, Evenflo Colored Baby Bottles, |
| the BPA is leaks out into the food or drink. Plus, if | | | | Evenflo Baby Bottles (opaque, pastel), Gerber |
| you are microwaving the bottle or container, you | | | | Baby Bottles (colors), Medela Baby Bottles. |
| are most likely increasing the amount of BPA that | | | | When saving food (for leftovers) or just for |
| goes into your food or drink. | | | | putting your child's sandwich in a bag so they can |
| BPA has been shown to cause reproductive | | | | eat it at school, use the following... as they are |
| problems such as miscarriage and other | | | | recycled and have not been shown to leak toxins |
| reproductive problems. If you are pregnant, you | | | | into your food... Glad Food Storage Bags, Glad |
| should be especially cautious about BPA exposure. | | | | Freezer Bags, Glad Sandwich Bags, Hefty Baggies, |
| BPA is even found in plastic teethers and toys! So | | | | Hefty OneZip Slider Bags, Saran Cling Plus, Ziploc |
| make sure you give babies fabric-like toys. | | | | Bags, Ziploc Double Guard Freezer Bags and |
| Even the FDA has concerns about BPA. They | | | | BestYet Clear Plastic Wrap. |
| released a statement on October 28, 2008 that | | | | Instead of using plastic in general, try these tips: |
| included the following statement... "The FDA | | | | Don't eat canned food if you can help it; use wax |
| agrees that, due to the uncertainties raised in | | | | paper or a paper towel to cover food in the |
| some studies relating to the potential effects of | | | | microwave; use glass cups instead of plastic; and |
| low dose exposure to bisphenol A, additional | | | | use glass or ceramic containers to save food |
| research would be valuable. The FDA is already | | | | instead of Tupperware |
| moving forward with planned research to address | | | | As a side note, canned foods are the most |
| the potential low dose effects of bisphenol A, and | | | | common source of BPA. That includes canned |
| we will carefully evaluate the findings of these | | | | soups, pastas and sodas (although sodas don't |
| studies." | | | | contain as much as soups and pastas). |
| So is there anything you can do about it? Well, | | | | |