Statement

Baby Bottle Scares: Get the Facts

ARLINGTON, VA (February 5, 2008) – Another plastic baby bottle scare is about to hit the news. Before jumping to conclusions, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) believes it is important to understand the facts. The facts are:

World-renowned experts have recently published findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals.  Their conclusions support the safety of these products.  For example, recent studies from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the University of Athens, and TNO, a prominent Dutch research organization, all demonstrate that release of bisphenol A from polycarbonate bottles under real-life conditions of use is far below conservative science-based safety standards. 

“Polycarbonate baby bottles have been safely used for decades and the extensive scientific evidence supporting the safety of these products has been evaluated by many independent scientific and government bodies worldwide,” stated Steven Hentges, Ph.D., of the American Chemistry Council’s Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group.  “The data now available from recent safety studies provides additional strong support for the continued safe use of polycarbonate bottles,” continued Dr. Hentges.

As stated by the Norwegian researchers, “even under extreme conditions and scenarios the amount of BPA released from polycarbonate baby bottles is clearly below the TDI [science-based European safety standard] for babies.”

These new studies further support the findings of independent government and scientific bodies worldwide that have evaluated the science on bisphenol A.  All of these evaluations support the conclusion that bisphenol A is not a risk to human health at the extremely low levels to which consumers might be exposed.  For example, in 2007 the European Food Safety Authority released a report on the safety of bisphenol A, focused on infants and children, by a panel of 21 independent scientific experts from throughout the European Union.  Based on the most recent science, that report provides a conclusion that consumers are not at risk from use of products made from bisphenol A.  That conclusion is further strengthened by the new data now available on baby bottles.

Today, Americans live longer, safer and healthier lives due to the benefits of chemistry.  Bisphenol A is used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, both of which are used in a wide range of common consumer products.  From baby bottles to bicycle helmets, and eyeglass lenses to components of life-saving medical devices, products made from polycarbonate plastic have been safely used for 50 years and continue to be safely used today.  ACC and its members encourage the development of toxicity, exposure and health-related information about its products and works with government and nongovernmental organizations to develop the scientific foundation for risk-based decision making.

For more information on bisphenol A and recent baby bottle studies, please visit http://www.bisphenol-A.org.