Bisphenol A (BPA) Information Update for Parents

February 2010

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced January 15, 2010, that the agency will pursue additional research on the health effects of bisphenol A in fetuses, infants and children.  BPA is a chemical found in trace amounts in many hard plastic food containers, including baby bottles and sippy cups.  In 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a review of toxicology research and information on BPA, and, at that time, assessed that food-related materials made with BPA on the market were safe.  While BPA has not been proven harmful in children, recent studies have reported subtle effects of low doses of BPA in laboratory animals.

The FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics do not recommend families change the use of infant formula or foods, as the benefit of a stable source of good nutrition outweighs the potential risk of BPA exposure. Until further research and analysis is completed, parents concerned about the effects of BPA on their infants and children should discuss the issue with their child’s health care provider.

As the results of new scientific research will not be available for up to two years, the FDA and the Oklahoma State Department of Health recommend parents take these basic steps to reduce exposure to bisphenol A:

1. Follow recommended infant feeding guidelines.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supports American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for infant feeding and supports breastfeeding as the ideal form of nutrition. However, if breastfeeding is not an option, iron-fortified infant formula is the safest, most nutritious alternative.

FDA has found that powdered formula typically has no detectable level of BPA, but there are small amounts of BPA in liquid infant formulas sold in cans. Parents using liquid formula in cans should not heat the cans on the stove or in boiling water. Ready-to-feed formula can be served at room temperature or gently warmed in a nursing bottle by running warm water over the outside of the bottle.

Parents considering a change to their baby’s diet should consult their child’s health care provider.

2. Discard scratched baby bottles and infant feeding cups.

Worn bottles and cups are likely to have scratches that harbor germs and, if they contain BPA, may release small amounts of the chemical.

3. Temperature matters.

Be careful when heating breast milk or formula. Studies have found small amounts of BPA in plastics and other packaging materials can transfer to food and liquids. Additional traces of BPA levels are transferred when hot or boiling liquids or foods come in contact with packaging made of BPA. Specifically:

• Avoid placing boiling or very hot water, infant formula or other liquids into BPA-containing bottles while preparing them for your child.
• Before mixing water with powdered infant formula, the water should be boiled in a BPA-free container and allowed to cool to lukewarm.
• Ready-to-feedliquid formula can be served at room temperature or gently warmed by running warm water over the outside of thebottle.
• Do not heat baby bottles of any kind in the microwave; the liquidmay heat unevenly and burn an infant
• Sterilize and clean bottles according to instructions on infant formula labels. Bottles should be left to cool to room temperature before adding infant formula.

4. Check the labels on bottles and food preparation containers.

Only use containers marked dishwasher safe in the dishwasher and only use those marked microwave safe in the microwave. As a general practice, discard all plastic food containers with scratches.

For more information, visit the FDA Web page at www.hhs.gov/safety/bpa.