BPA in formula
Of course breast is best, but if you feed your baby formula you may want to consider the risks of Bisphenol-A which has been found in mosts brands of baby formula. In December CNN reported that
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit research organization focused on public health and the environment. It does not take money from special interest groups. The group previously raised concerns about the presence of BPA in plastic baby bottles and is pushing for regulation of the compound.
The group says, based on its analysis of existing research on BPA, even a very small amount of the compound may cause a host of problems, from brain and behavioral disorders to cancer, a claim the formula makers and federal regulators adamantly deny.
“BPA is a chemical that is harmful at very low doses,” says Jane Houlihan, the organization’s vice president for research. “We’re talking about millions of babies exposed every year to this toxic chemical that’s found in infant formula.”
The Environmental Working Group surveyed the top five manufacturers of baby formula to determine whether they used BPA in their packaging. Here’s a summary of their findings:
* The makers of Nestlé, Similac, Enfamil and PBM (who make store-brand formulas sold at WalMart, Target, Kroger and dozens of other retailers) all said that they use BPA in the linings of metal cans holding liquid formula.
* BPA is widely used in powdered formula containers as well. Every manufacturer except Nestlé said it uses a BPA-based lining on the metal portions of their powdered formula cans. Nestlé failed to provide EWG with reliable documentation of their alternative packaging, and thus is not a clear improvement over other types.
* Powdered formulas are a better choice. Our calculations indicate that babies fed reconstituted powdered formula likely receive 8 to 20 times less BPA than those fed liquid formula from a metal can.
To avoid exposing your child, breastfeeding is the best choice. Powdered formula is the next safest choice, especially Similac and Enfamil whose packaging only contains BPA on the tops and bottoms, not the cardboard sides. If you must feed your baby liquid formula, concentrated formulas in plastic containers are a better choice than ready to serve formula since the concentrate requires dilution.
My StumbleUpon Page
January 16th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Wow…good to know.
January 16th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
[...] more about BPA levels in infant formula at Z [...]