Northampton—Scientists and advocates gathered today to call on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) to phase out BPA from infant formula and baby food packaging and reusable food and beverage containers, as well as baby bottles and sippy cups.  The DPH has proposed a “limited ban on bisphenol-A (BPA) in reusable food and beverage containers intended for use by children ages 3 and under,” ie: baby bottles and sippy cups.  Scientists, parents, and advocates representing members of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT) coalition will offer testimony at a hearing this afternoon in Northampton demonstrating that the proposed regulation is inadequate, and that it should also phase out BPA from infant formula and baby food packaging and all reusable food and beverage containers, at a minimum.

Before the public hearing, the AHT was in downtown Northampton to emphasize their point with a 20 foot inflatable baby bottle with a banner that read: GOT BPA? Make this bottle safe inside and out.

“If the Department of Public Health allows a BPA regulation to pass with this limited scope of products, they will be allowing continued toxic contamination of vulnerable infants,” said Elizabeth Saunders, Legislative Director for Clean Water Action. “BPA will still be found in infant formula and containers that pregnant women use, and that parents use to feed their children. We need real action to protect developing children.”

BPA is a toxic chemical that leaches from polycarbonate plastics and the linings of food and beverage cans.  It mimics the hormone estrogen and disrupts the body's endocrine system. Estrogen is an important chemical messenger and when disrupted, many systems in the body can be affected. BPA exposure during critical windows of development, such as in the womb and during infancy, is found in animal studies to cause serious, long term health impacts, even at very low doses. BPA was detected in the urine of 93% of the American population in a 2003-2004 study and children were found to have the highest levels. In animal studies, BPA exposure is linked to early onset of puberty, increased diabetes risk, hyperactivity, and certain cancers, including breast cancer.

“The more we learn about the health impacts of BPA, the more it becomes clear that a ‘wait and see’ approach to BPA is not appropriate,” said Tamara Adkins, MPH, GreenFaith Fellow, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England Graduate School. “Now we know that the placenta is not the impermeable barrier that we once thought it was, that even tiny amounts of some chemicals can cause serious harm, and that one person’s exposure can sometimes affect many generations. BPA exposure should not be taken it lightly!”

There are safer alternatives on the market for infant and baby food packaging and reusable food and beverage containers. The safest alternatives that exist currently for food and beverage containers are glass and stainless steel. They are so safe that someone can heat and cook food or beverages in both materials without any health concerns. Due to public concern and mounting scientific evidence of harm, leading U.S. retailers and chemical manufacturers are creating safer, cost-effective alternatives to BPA and some are already on the market.
“I want my child to have the healthiest, best life possible. I want to keep my child safe from toxic chemicals like BPA.  But as long as basic things like baby bottles and infant formula, which should be safe for children, have BPA in them, protecting my child is pretty hard,” said Milagros Guzman, Environmental Youth Leader for Nuestras Raices. “These problems hit us the hardest in low income communities.  When the word starts to get out about toxic chemicals in a particular product, we are often the last to know.  And while upscale stores in richer communities are selling the safer products, the value stores in poorer communities are filling up with the toxic products that will no longer be sold in other stores.”

The neighboring states of Connecticut and Vermont have both passed laws to phase the toxic chemical out of infant formula and baby food packaging, as well as the full range of reusable food and beverage containers. This follows legislation in Canada, Minnesota, Suffolk County New York, and Chicago which prevents the chemical’s use in baby bottles.

“The medical and public health community has an obligation to protect the health of all people, especially in cases where the most vulnerable, the developing fetus and babies, are at risk.” said Bill Ravanesi, MPH, Regional Director for Healthcare without Harm, Longmeadow. “The Department of Public Health is not taking this obligation seriously, if they do not include infant formula and food and beverage containers in this regulation.”