Bisphenol A

Ask your MP to take action to help protect babies from harmful chemicals

Bisphenol A (also known as BPA) is a chemical which causes damage to animals and probably humans during critical stages of their development.  It interferes with healthy growth and body functions and mimics the effect of the hormone oestrogen in the body; binding with oestrogen receptors without replacing the activity of oestrogen. Babies are particularly vulnerable to these 'hormone mimicking' effects because they are growing rapidly, both in the womb and in their early months and years.

Bisphenol A is used in bottles, toys and in the lining of food cans and dental sealants.  It has been shown to leach out of feeding bottles, which are made from this sort of plastic, into the liquid.  It is important to note that recent Canadian/US studies have shown that the bottles did not leach Bisphenol A at room temperature.  Also, not all plastic bottles on the market contain Bisphenol A and glass bottles do not leach Bisphenol A.

You can take action to change labelling to help parents make informed choices

The NCT is calling for a clear labelling of bottles, following these findings. In support of this, Susan Kramer MP, has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) calling for the clear compositional labelling of plastic baby feeding bottles with Bisphenol A so that parents can make an informed choice. The EDM also calls on the Food Standards Agency to urgently review the use of Bisphenol A in baby bottles in light of the new evidence.

Write to your MP asking them to sign EDM 1524 to support this motion and ensure bottles are correctly labelled.  You can find out who your MP is by going to http://www.writetothem.com/ and entering your postcode.