Rachel's #939: GROUP SAYS INFANT FORMULA CANS POSE HEALTH RISK

[Guest guest]

At 05:12 PM 12/29/07, you wrote:

>GROUP SAYS INFANT FORMULA CANS POSE HEALTH RISK

>

>By Russell J. Dinnage, E & ENews PM reporter

>

>Major U.S. manufacturers of infant formula line their packages with

>material that contains unsafe levels of a chemical linked to

>reproductive problems, an advocacy group said in a report released

>today.

>

>The Environmental Working Group said Nestle, Ross-Abbot, MeadJohnson

>and PBM admitted using the chemical, bisphenol A, as an epoxy resin to

>line cans of popular brands Good Start (Nestle), Similac (Ross-Abbot)

>and Enfamil (MeadJohnson).

>

>And Ross-Abbot, MeadJohnson, PBM and Hain-Celestial use bisphenol A-

>based linings on metal portions of their powdered formula cans, the

>group said. Nestle did not provide the Washington-based group with

>information on whether the chemical is used to line packages of its

>powdered formula brands.

>

>The companies provided information about their use of bisphenol A in a

>recent survey conducted by the environmental group. The survey asked

>the companies about whether they use the chemical in packaging for

>both liquid and powdered formula products. Among the questions: " Do

>you use bisphenol A in cans of liquid and powdered formula? " And " Do

>you test for bisphenol A in your products? "

>

>The report advises parents who use formula to choose the powdered

>version because bisphenol A is more easily absorbed from the container

>into liquid formula. Tests by both the EWG and Food and Drug

>Administration show " 1 of every 16 infants fed [liquid] formula would

>be exposed to the [bisphenol A] at doses exceeding those that caused

>harm in laboratory studies, " the report says. The chemical is in every

>brand of liquid formula in varying amounts, it says.

>

>The report also advises parents to buy formula in plastic containers

>because non-metal packaging contains lower levels of leachable

>bisphenol A. Also, parents should use formulas that require dilution

>because adding water reduces the amount of the chemical entering a

>baby's body.

>

>Bisphenol A is used in water and food containers, shatter-resistant

>baby bottles and dental fillings. There is particular concern about

>the chemical's effect on very young children. San Francisco passed a

>ban on bisphenol A in toys last year over concerns about its potential

>to harm reproductive systems.

>

>Scientists generally agree that bisphenol A, which is used in the

>manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics, can cause reproductive

>problems by blocking testosterone and mimicking estrogen.

>

>But the Food and Drug Administration maintains that small doses of the

>chemical via food are not harmful to human health.

>

>The EWG findings follow past group studies that found that bisphenol A

>is present in plastic baby bottles and that parents can best protect

>their infant's health by using glass bottles.

>

> " Many parents have switched to [bisphenol A]-free bottles for their

>infants. They certainly should have access to [bisphenol A]-free

>formula as well, " EWG analyst Sonya Lunder said. " U.S. manufacturers

>of infant formula and baby bottles can and should do the right thing

>and remove this harmful chemical from their products. "

 

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