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Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Baby bottle Recall
Baby Bargains book withdraws recommendation for certain plastic baby bottles
(BOULDER, CO) The authors of BABY BARGAINS, the country's best-selling guide
to baby products (700,000 copies in print), today called for parents to stop
using baby bottles and sippy cups made of polycarbonate plastic.
Polycarbonate bottles are made from a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). In
an article in a peer-reviewed medical journal last week, a group of 38
scientists said BPA caused a significant health risk.
www.latimes.com
.story?coll=la-home-nation
Also last week, a federal panel convened by the National Institutes of
Health said there is "some concern" the chemical could cause behavioral and
neurological problems in young children.
Specifically, parents should stop using Avent's Natural Feeding Bottle and
Dr. Brown's Natural Flow (or any bottle made of polycarbonate
plastic)---these products were previously recommended by BABY BARGAINS.
"All baby bottles and sippy cups made of polycarbonate plastic should be
avoided," said author and consumer advocate Denise Fields. "If you are
shopping for bottles, chose an alternative made from BPA-free plastic or
glass. If you have polycarbonate bottles, throw them out."
So, what is BPA? How is it harmful? See the FAQ below for answers.
Q. What the heck is BPA? Why is it dangerous?
Clear plastic baby bottles (as well as some food containers and water
bottles) are made of polycarbonate, which contains a chemical called
bisphenol A (BPA). It is the BPA that makes the hard, clear plastic bottles
. . . well, hard and clear.
Here's the rub: BPA's chemical bond with polycarbonate breaks down over
time--especially with repeated washings or heating of the bottle. As a
result, BPA leaches out of the plastic bottle or sippy cup . . . and into
the liquid (that is, breast milk or formula).
While most data on BPA comes from animal research, studies show even
low-levels of BPA MAY be linked to everything from early puberty to breast
cancer, to attention and developmental problems.
We wrote a detailed article on BPA and plastic baby bottles in our Baby 411
book. Click here to read it online on our web site:
www.windsorpeak.com
===
Q. Do we really know that these bottles are dangerous to humans?
No, we don't. There have been no human studies on BPA--so far, researchers
have only found problems in animal research.
There is a split opinion here among scientists. The same federal panel that
said it had "some concern" about behavioral and developmental problems in
babies also stated that links to other ailments like birth defects and adult
ailments were "negligible." Of course, the plastics industry says BPA is
completely safe.
That contrasts to the group of 38 scientists who last week called the health
threat from BPA as "significant."
But the fact the federal panel said there were "some concerns" for the
health of babies tipped the balance for us.
As parents, we realize it can be hard to decide what to do when the debate
is so heated. As always, our mantra is "show us the science." We believe
enough science is now in to recommend a change in course.
===
Q. Isn't it a bit alarmist to say stop using these bottles? When will we
know for certain BPA is harmful to humans?
The truth is we won't know for YEARS if there is a human health problem from
BPA. And it could be YEARS more before the government decides to take some
regulatory action.
We have consulted with pediatricians and other experts before making this
decision. The consensus of these experts is: if concerns exist today (and
that is backed up by reputable scientific research), then why not limit your
baby's exposure to this chemical?
Babies are especially at risk when it comes to exposure to harmful
chemicals--that's one thing we all can agree on.
The bottom line: we suggest stop using polycarbonate baby bottles and sippy
cups NOW. Since there are quite a few BPA-free bottles on the market (see
below), we believe this is an easy call for parents.
===
Q. The Juvenile Products Manufacturer's Association said plastic baby
bottles are safe.
In a recent statement, the JPMA said the federal panel's report on BPA
"reaffirms the safety of plastic baby bottles."
With all due respect to the fine folks at the JPMA, we're not sure they were
reading the same report we did. If they did, they would note this sentence:
"The Expert Panel expressed SOME CONCERN that exposure to BPA causes neural
and behavioral effects (emphasis added)."
Click here to read it:
cerhr.niehs.nih.gov
What part of "some concern" did the JPMA miss?
We realize you can argue that the panel didn't call for the ban of products
with BPA. But, that's NOT what the panel was asked to do. It will now take
years of debate among scientists, researchers and politicians as to the best
course to take with BPA.
The JPMA does a good job at representing the manufacturers of baby products
and lobbying the government on their behalf. But we would hardly call them
unbiased experts on this subject. In fact, Avent (the U.S. largest seller of
polycarbonate baby bottles) sits on the JPMA's board of directors.
For the record, Avent told us they believe their bottles are safe and pose
no heath threat to babies.
===
Q. Which bottles should we NOT use? Which ones are BPA-free?
Polycarbonate baby bottles make up about 90% of the bottle market. The most
common polycarbonate bottle are Avent's Natural Feeding Bottle and Dr. Brown
's Natural Flow. But other major baby product companies like Playtex and
Gerber also make polycarbonate bottles.
Click here to see pictures of polycarbonate bottles:
www.windsorpeak.com
Here are the alternatives that are BPA-free:
* Use glass bottles. Obviously, there is a risk of injury to baby or mom if
the bottle is dropped, so glass isn't a perfect alternative.
* Use bottles made of opaque plastic. These bottles (made of polyethylene or
polypropylene) do not contain BPA.
* Consider a BPA-free plastic bottle. Born Free makes a BPA-free clear
plastic bottle (Newbornfree.com) sold at Whole Foods. But these cost about
$10 each, twice the price of Avent bottles.
* Use a drop-in system. For example the Playtex Drop-in System is BPA free
(that is, the bottle liners do not contain BPA). Avent's Tempo liners are
another example.
We have pictures of these on our web page here:
www.windsorpeak.com
===
Q. Is there a way to tell if a bottle has BPA?
A. Unfortunately, it isn't easy. Here's a general guide:
BAD:
* Bottles that have a #7 on their recycling label most likely are made of
polycarbonate (and contain BPA).
GOOD:
* Bottles that have a #2, #4 , #5 are made of polyethylene or
polypropylene--these do NOT have BPA.
We call on the government to require disclosure of which bottles have BPA,
so consumers can make an informed choice.
===
Q. What about sippy cups? Breast pump collection bottles?
A. Basically, the same advice applies: avoid those made of polycarbonate
plastic. Sippy cups made of opaque plastic are fine. Again, check the bottom
of the cup for its recycling number (#7 should be avoided). For breast pump
collection bottles, consider BPA-free bottles (such as those from Medela).
===
Q. I just bought $50 worth of Avent bottles. Are you saying I should throw
them out?
A. Yes. We know this in an inconvenience--but if you think about it, buying
replacement bottles would run only $50 to $100. When it comes to safety, we
think this is a worthwhile investment.
In the last printing of Baby Bargains, we realize that we recommended Avent
and Dr. Brown's polycarbonate bottles and said that polycarbonate bottles
were safe. This was written before the release of the latest BPA study and
federal panel report last week.
We have changed our recommendation on this subject based on new scientific
evidence and the results of the federal panel discussed earlier. We will be
revising our book in a new printing later this year to reflect this advice.
We realize this is of little comfort to a reader who just bought $50 worth
of Avent bottles and can't return them--but we owe it to all readers to get
the best and accurate advice out there as soon as it is available.
(Note: the advice in this update differs slightly from what we previous
wrote in Baby 411 3rd edition. In that book, we said parents could still use
polycarbonate bottles if they limited washings/heated drying, etc. Given the
latest scientific evidence, we will revise that book to reflect the above
advice to STOP using these bottles altogether.)
We will continue to blog about this subject. Check out our blogs here:
baby411.typepad.com baby411.typepad.com
=================================== ==
2. Richmond, VA parents: Join author Alan Fields for a book-signing and get
a free book!
Join BABY BARGAINS author Alan Fields at the Family First event at the USA
Baby in Richmond, VA this Saturday August 18!
Fields will be signing books from 1pm to 3pm.
And here's the cool part: the first 400 parents through the door will get a
FREE copy of BABY BARGAINS!
The Family First event will feature free massages for parents, clowns, a
moon bounce, and other events for the kiddos!
For directions to the USA Baby in Richmond, click here: www.usababyric.com
See you in Richmond!
=================================== ==
That's the news from here! Thanks for reading BABY BARGAINS.
Best wishes,
Alan & Denise Fields
Authors, BABY BARGAINS
(BOULDER, CO) The authors of BABY BARGAINS, the country's best-selling guide
to baby products (700,000 copies in print), today called for parents to stop
using baby bottles and sippy cups made of polycarbonate plastic.
Polycarbonate bottles are made from a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). In
an article in a peer-reviewed medical journal last week, a group of 38
scientists said BPA caused a significant health risk.
www.latimes.com
.story?coll=la-home-nation
Also last week, a federal panel convened by the National Institutes of
Health said there is "some concern" the chemical could cause behavioral and
neurological problems in young children.
Specifically, parents should stop using Avent's Natural Feeding Bottle and
Dr. Brown's Natural Flow (or any bottle made of polycarbonate
plastic)---these products were previously recommended by BABY BARGAINS.
"All baby bottles and sippy cups made of polycarbonate plastic should be
avoided," said author and consumer advocate Denise Fields. "If you are
shopping for bottles, chose an alternative made from BPA-free plastic or
glass. If you have polycarbonate bottles, throw them out."
So, what is BPA? How is it harmful? See the FAQ below for answers.
Q. What the heck is BPA? Why is it dangerous?
Clear plastic baby bottles (as well as some food containers and water
bottles) are made of polycarbonate, which contains a chemical called
bisphenol A (BPA). It is the BPA that makes the hard, clear plastic bottles
. . . well, hard and clear.
Here's the rub: BPA's chemical bond with polycarbonate breaks down over
time--especially with repeated washings or heating of the bottle. As a
result, BPA leaches out of the plastic bottle or sippy cup . . . and into
the liquid (that is, breast milk or formula).
While most data on BPA comes from animal research, studies show even
low-levels of BPA MAY be linked to everything from early puberty to breast
cancer, to attention and developmental problems.
We wrote a detailed article on BPA and plastic baby bottles in our Baby 411
book. Click here to read it online on our web site:
www.windsorpeak.com
===
Q. Do we really know that these bottles are dangerous to humans?
No, we don't. There have been no human studies on BPA--so far, researchers
have only found problems in animal research.
There is a split opinion here among scientists. The same federal panel that
said it had "some concern" about behavioral and developmental problems in
babies also stated that links to other ailments like birth defects and adult
ailments were "negligible." Of course, the plastics industry says BPA is
completely safe.
That contrasts to the group of 38 scientists who last week called the health
threat from BPA as "significant."
But the fact the federal panel said there were "some concerns" for the
health of babies tipped the balance for us.
As parents, we realize it can be hard to decide what to do when the debate
is so heated. As always, our mantra is "show us the science." We believe
enough science is now in to recommend a change in course.
===
Q. Isn't it a bit alarmist to say stop using these bottles? When will we
know for certain BPA is harmful to humans?
The truth is we won't know for YEARS if there is a human health problem from
BPA. And it could be YEARS more before the government decides to take some
regulatory action.
We have consulted with pediatricians and other experts before making this
decision. The consensus of these experts is: if concerns exist today (and
that is backed up by reputable scientific research), then why not limit your
baby's exposure to this chemical?
Babies are especially at risk when it comes to exposure to harmful
chemicals--that's one thing we all can agree on.
The bottom line: we suggest stop using polycarbonate baby bottles and sippy
cups NOW. Since there are quite a few BPA-free bottles on the market (see
below), we believe this is an easy call for parents.
===
Q. The Juvenile Products Manufacturer's Association said plastic baby
bottles are safe.
In a recent statement, the JPMA said the federal panel's report on BPA
"reaffirms the safety of plastic baby bottles."
With all due respect to the fine folks at the JPMA, we're not sure they were
reading the same report we did. If they did, they would note this sentence:
"The Expert Panel expressed SOME CONCERN that exposure to BPA causes neural
and behavioral effects (emphasis added)."
Click here to read it:
cerhr.niehs.nih.gov
What part of "some concern" did the JPMA miss?
We realize you can argue that the panel didn't call for the ban of products
with BPA. But, that's NOT what the panel was asked to do. It will now take
years of debate among scientists, researchers and politicians as to the best
course to take with BPA.
The JPMA does a good job at representing the manufacturers of baby products
and lobbying the government on their behalf. But we would hardly call them
unbiased experts on this subject. In fact, Avent (the U.S. largest seller of
polycarbonate baby bottles) sits on the JPMA's board of directors.
For the record, Avent told us they believe their bottles are safe and pose
no heath threat to babies.
===
Q. Which bottles should we NOT use? Which ones are BPA-free?
Polycarbonate baby bottles make up about 90% of the bottle market. The most
common polycarbonate bottle are Avent's Natural Feeding Bottle and Dr. Brown
's Natural Flow. But other major baby product companies like Playtex and
Gerber also make polycarbonate bottles.
Click here to see pictures of polycarbonate bottles:
www.windsorpeak.com
Here are the alternatives that are BPA-free:
* Use glass bottles. Obviously, there is a risk of injury to baby or mom if
the bottle is dropped, so glass isn't a perfect alternative.
* Use bottles made of opaque plastic. These bottles (made of polyethylene or
polypropylene) do not contain BPA.
* Consider a BPA-free plastic bottle. Born Free makes a BPA-free clear
plastic bottle (Newbornfree.com) sold at Whole Foods. But these cost about
$10 each, twice the price of Avent bottles.
* Use a drop-in system. For example the Playtex Drop-in System is BPA free
(that is, the bottle liners do not contain BPA). Avent's Tempo liners are
another example.
We have pictures of these on our web page here:
www.windsorpeak.com
===
Q. Is there a way to tell if a bottle has BPA?
A. Unfortunately, it isn't easy. Here's a general guide:
BAD:
* Bottles that have a #7 on their recycling label most likely are made of
polycarbonate (and contain BPA).
GOOD:
* Bottles that have a #2, #4 , #5 are made of polyethylene or
polypropylene--these do NOT have BPA.
We call on the government to require disclosure of which bottles have BPA,
so consumers can make an informed choice.
===
Q. What about sippy cups? Breast pump collection bottles?
A. Basically, the same advice applies: avoid those made of polycarbonate
plastic. Sippy cups made of opaque plastic are fine. Again, check the bottom
of the cup for its recycling number (#7 should be avoided). For breast pump
collection bottles, consider BPA-free bottles (such as those from Medela).
===
Q. I just bought $50 worth of Avent bottles. Are you saying I should throw
them out?
A. Yes. We know this in an inconvenience--but if you think about it, buying
replacement bottles would run only $50 to $100. When it comes to safety, we
think this is a worthwhile investment.
In the last printing of Baby Bargains, we realize that we recommended Avent
and Dr. Brown's polycarbonate bottles and said that polycarbonate bottles
were safe. This was written before the release of the latest BPA study and
federal panel report last week.
We have changed our recommendation on this subject based on new scientific
evidence and the results of the federal panel discussed earlier. We will be
revising our book in a new printing later this year to reflect this advice.
We realize this is of little comfort to a reader who just bought $50 worth
of Avent bottles and can't return them--but we owe it to all readers to get
the best and accurate advice out there as soon as it is available.
(Note: the advice in this update differs slightly from what we previous
wrote in Baby 411 3rd edition. In that book, we said parents could still use
polycarbonate bottles if they limited washings/heated drying, etc. Given the
latest scientific evidence, we will revise that book to reflect the above
advice to STOP using these bottles altogether.)
We will continue to blog about this subject. Check out our blogs here:
baby411.typepad.com baby411.typepad.com
=================================== ==
2. Richmond, VA parents: Join author Alan Fields for a book-signing and get
a free book!
Join BABY BARGAINS author Alan Fields at the Family First event at the USA
Baby in Richmond, VA this Saturday August 18!
Fields will be signing books from 1pm to 3pm.
And here's the cool part: the first 400 parents through the door will get a
FREE copy of BABY BARGAINS!
The Family First event will feature free massages for parents, clowns, a
moon bounce, and other events for the kiddos!
For directions to the USA Baby in Richmond, click here: www.usababyric.com
See you in Richmond!
=================================== ==
That's the news from here! Thanks for reading BABY BARGAINS.
Best wishes,
Alan & Denise Fields
Authors, BABY BARGAINS