States Ask Baby Product Companies to Avoid BPA

Oct. 13, 2008— -- HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Attorneys general from Connecticut, NewJersey and Delaware sent letters Friday to 11 companies that makebaby bottles and baby formula containers, asking they no longer usethe chemical bisphenol A in their manufacturing because they saidit was potentially harmful to infants.

But Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal was mostcritical of the FDA for declining to take action after apreliminary study last month drew a possible connection to BPA andrisks of heart disease and diabetes.

"Unfortunately the federal agency, the Federal Food and DrugAdministration, has been asleep at the switch, in fact resistant torespecting the scientific evidence that grave harm can result inuse of this product," Blumenthal said.

Scientists are at odds about the risks of BPA. A preliminarystudy released last month by the Journal of the American MedicalAssociation suggested that adults exposed to higher amounts of thechemical were more likely to report having heart disease anddiabetes. The study doesn't provide proof, although its authorssaid the results deserve scientific follow-up.

The FDA has tentatively concluded that BPA is safe, but gaveconsumers some tips on how to reduce their exposure. Consumers canavoid plastic containers imprinted with the recycling number '7,'as many of those contain BPA, and avoid warming food in suchcontainers, the FDA said.

More than 90 percent of Americans have traces of BPA in theirbodies, but the FDA says the levels of exposure are too low to posea health risk, even for infants and children. Other scientists,however, say BPA has been shown to affect the human body even atvery low levels.

The scientific debate about the chemical could last for years. In the letters, Blumenthal cites studies that indicate BPA canattach to food in heated containers. "The preventable release of atoxic chemical directly into the food we eat is unconscionable andintolerable," he wrote.

Letters were sent Friday to baby bottle manufacturers AventAmerica Inc., Disney First Years, Gerber, Handicraft Co., PlaytexProducts Inc. and Evenflo Co., and formula makers Abbott, MeadJohnson, PBM Products, Nature's One and Wyeth.

"Unfortunately the FDA has refused to do anything about it,"Blumenthal said Monday. "We're asking the 11 manufacturers to doso voluntarily."

Several states are considering restricting BPA use, and somemanufacturers have begun promoting BPA-free baby bottles. St.Louis-based Handicraft, maker of Dr. Brown's baby bottles, says onits Web site that its newest bottles do not contain BPA and urgesconsumers to check its products for symbols that identify bottlesthat don't contain the chemical. A message was left with thecompany seeking comment Monday.

Some U.S. stores, such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Toys "R"Us, have already said they're phasing out products that containBPA. The European Union has said BPA-containing products are safe,but Canada's government has proposed banning the sale of babybottles with BPA as a precaution.

BPA is used in lightweight, durable plastics. Products includesome baby bottles, sippy cups and reusable food and drinkcontainers, such as reusable sports water bottles, Tupperware,compact discs, DVDs, eyeglass lenses and sports safety goggles andhelmets.

BPA is also in epoxy resins used to make paints, adhesives andcanned food liners.

Animal studies have linked BPA with breast, prostate andreproductive system abnormalities and some cancers, but expertsdisagree on whether it poses health risks for humans.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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