Bisphenol A (BPA) – Health Canada has today banned the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles manufactured with BPA.

[chefswife]

I didn?t know what heading to put this under so I hope everyone will see this. I know most of us are in the UK, however it is important info. It was sent to me by my cousin, a General Practice and Natural Path MD for ten years and has a successful practice in Canada

Timely news announcements of importance to NDs and patients

April 18, 2008

Two health issues currently appearing in the media are of particular importance to NDs and their patients:

1. Bisphenol A (BPA) ? Health Canada has today banned the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles manufactured with BPA.

BPA is a chemical molecule that mimics estrogen in the body. This xenoestrogen is an endocrine disruptor that may potentiate the risk for developing hormonally based cancers, including breast, prostate and endometrial and may even lead to infertility or effect the onset of puberty. It is primarily used in the manufacture of rigid plastic products but is also found in canned foods and beverages especially acidic fruits and vegetables where it stops the contents from eroding the metal container.

The CAND has prepared the attached Patient Handout to assist you in discussing the risks of BPA with patients and to provide some alternatives. The information will also be posted on the CAND website.

Health Minister Tony Clement has announced that Health Canada will be posting its report on BPA shortly and the public will be given 60 days to comment. The CAND will be submitting comments and asks that members interested in assisting with the development of our response contact the CAND office.

Bisphenol A (BPA) What is it, and where is it found? BPA is a chemical used in the manufacture of everyday products including: baby bottles, water bottles, canned foods and beverages - especially acidic fruits and vegetables, and sealants in dental fillings. BPA is found in rigid, transparent (may also be coloured) plastic products identified by a triangle with the number 7 in the center. Not all products containing BPA carry this identifying symbol. What does it do? BPA leaches from containers into the contents and is consumed along with the contents. Containers do not need to be heated for this to occur. What is the risk? BPA is a molecule that mimics estrogen in the body. Animal studies have linked long term exposure to infertility, early puberty and prostate and breast cancer. Who is at risk? Everyone is at risk in the long term, but infants and children and those with chemical and environmental sensitivities are particularly vulnerable. What can we do? Substitute all BPA products, or any that you suspect may contain BPA with non-toxic alternatives such as glass or stainless steel. Use fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Alternatively select products that are packaged in glass or cardboard containers or that have been frozen when fresh. Alternatives available in the marketplace (not an exhaustive list - suggestions only) ? Glassware containers available at retailers including Ikea and Loblaws. ? ?Born Free? baby bottles and sippy cups available at health food stores. ? ?Klean Kanteen? stainless steel bottles available at retailers including health food stores in three or four different sizes and price ranges.

1. Bill C-517 ? supporting mandatory labeling of Genetically Engineered foods.

Private members bill C?517 passed first reading in the House of Commons on April 3, 2008. Second reading is expected shortly. If the bill passes second reading it will be sent to the Standing Committee on Health for review and consultation. If it is returned to the House for a third reading it has a very strong chance of becoming law. The CAND supports Bill C-517 and encourages all members to share the attached GREENPEACE announcement with colleagues, patients, friends, and family and to call upon their local Member of Parliament to support the Bill. Complete details including how to locate your local MP are contained in the GREENPEACE announcement.

*If you are experiencing difficulty accessing the links in the attached document, please link to:
www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/ge/take-action/take-action-on-c517

__

Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND)
1255 Sheppard Ave. E.
Toronto, Canada M2K 1E2
T 416.496.8633 F 416.496.8634
Toll-free in Canada 1.800.551.4381
www.cand.ca

Sorry. The genetically engineered part, although equally important, is only about a bill that may be passed in Canada. No direct info on the topic. Although, a great book on the topic is ?Eating in the Dark?.

thanks for the post, chefswife
there was a thread on something similar to do with heating babies bottles/chemicals released a while back and most people didn't seem bothered iirc. hippy nonsense etc. I didn't realise the part about cans before, is that on the labels?
who are health canada? is it a govt body?

yes, it's a gov't body. it's all " " Canada, so just insert health/environment/ etc etc in front

Hana? are you from the great white north?

yup

are you?

Oh ya. Born in Scarborough, raised in Peterborough, but call Victoria home? even though I live in LondonTown right now. You?

NS born and bred, but have been in London for (gulp) almost 12 years.

I?ve only been here 4 years? camein ?98 for a year. What were the difficulties in adapting to Englishness? I find, from living on the west coast for 10 years, that there seems to a complete disregard to health here in the UK? organic food is poncy, whole foods is something only consumed during Sunday roast, and topics such as I have posted are not even discussed in Parliament. The running for Mayor in London candidates are only concerned with planting trees? just for an example. Not one is concerned about community garden plots closing? anyhow, I can rant? esp after some wine and late night.

ahh

well , the whole election thing is pants. I'd have a policy that limited the number of terms you could run. Gawd .I do find people are pretty apathetic - maybe comes with the sheer size of London. Although where I am there are waiting lists for allotments and quite a good neighbourhood vibe. Organic food - far better selection here than in Halifax I have to say - it's always such a small section at Sobeys if organic exists at all!

rant away, this is good for that

Wow! It?s great you have a great organic selection and allotments. I miss my garden. I was growing Jerusalem Artichokes to Eggplants (Aubergines) to Brussel Sprouts. West Coast Canada has the ultimate selection for organics? farmers even growing organic lemons, limes and pineapple now. The cost is not that significantly more. Everyone knows the farms and even though they may not be government legislated organic, (guidelines are so strict) they are. I love London though. We all make sacrifies.

This is big news in the US too

glass bottle will be back before we know it. I remember my brother having glass bottles (obv can't remember what I had....) That was in mid 70s

What?s the discussion in The States?

Sorry Morocco. No, it?s not on the labels. I think the legislation will finally label what products are ?free? of the ingredient

I know someone working on a similar (perhaps the same? not sure of details) product. It's used a lot in the tubing etc used for saline drips etc. It might be significant when used with preemies as they get a high dose.

Perhaps you should forward this info to them. It may prove significant for the use of saline drip tubes for susceptible preemies.

My neighbourhood is in panic mode about all this. I think most people aren't hugely concerned but my friends are now using aluminium bottles for their kids or glass baby bottles.

DS and I still drink from Nalgene which is one of the ones in the scare. I suppose I should change them. I think I am more concerned about canned food though - it would be hard to stop using them.

worth reading i have been a fan of Mam Ultivent for a while now - dd was a bottlerefusing imp. They are fairly easy to get hold of in the UK.

Well as it was Earth Day today I'm hoping that there will be loads of great 'metal" cannisters now cheap for our water bottles for this summer. To be honest I'm glad that someone's taking a stand. But like UR - I think there are a great deal of other things we should be concerned about too. I'm one of those sad people that will not buy any tins that are damaged - that stems from my Mum telling me that it wasn't a good idea.

i don't buy damaged tins either. was amazed taht they are on the shelves in the UK. In Belize where I am from, they cannot be put on the shelf and this goes back to the late 70's afaik.

i buy goods in packaged in glass over cans and plastic when possible

In Holland where I used to live you could buy bottled veggies - much better. I thank goodness for living in Colorado where we have some of the best Organic supermarkets ever.

Aren't Dr Browns bottle also Bisphenol-A free?

dr brown'a are not. look at the link to see which are / aren't.

Born Free are very similar to Doc Browns and are BPA free

I?ve had my Nalgene bottle for a few years now. I love it. I know that the main concern is with the development of babies and children but who knows what they?ll find later. I experience environmental sensitivities with so many products? I can?t even wear sunscreen. We live in such a time where it is extremely important to label foods or rather, just what known harmful ingredients foods and receptacles have. I only buy organic canned tomatoes and chickpeas. Everything else is fresh. I have the luxury though of being an artist who works from home so I can do everyday shopping. I reckon that will change when babies come.